Statements that Russian airstrikes inflaming war in Syria 'absurd': Russian FM spox
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed as "absurd" accusations from Britain and other countries that Russia's air strikes in Syria are inflaming the civil war.
"For example, the position of our British colleagues on Syria. To what is this increase in creative inspiration connected? What we are hearing is, of course, absurd. Such as, these statements about Russian military intervention in Syria and about whether they, our air force, or our actions in general are stimulating civil war in that country," Zakharova said.
Russia is not trying to create an Alawite state in Syria: FM spox Zakharova
Russia is not trying to create an Alawite state in Syria and sees Syria as a unified country, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.
"For several years we have always said openly and publicly, during the negotiations processes and multilateral formats that our understanding of the future of Syria -- which obviously must be formed by the efforts of the Syrians themselves -- boils down to the fact that Syria must be a multi-confessional state in which democratic principles are in force, and each time we have stressed that, of course, this state must be whole and united," Zakharova said.
Russia says none of its aircraft violated Turkish air space
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that no Russian aircraft has violated Turkish air space.
Kerry demands Russia stop Syria bombing
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has demanded that Russia stop bombing the Syrian opposition, AFP reports.
Kerry also said that both parties to the conflict -- the Syrian government and the rebels -- must allow humanitarian aid access to besieged areas.
Alongside Britain's Foreign Minister Phillip Hammond, Kerry read out sections of UN Security Council resolution 2254, passed in December, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
"Russia has a responsibility, as do all parties, to live up to it," he said.
"So I had a conversation this morning with Foreign Minister Lavrov. We discussed, and we agreed, that we need to discuss how to implement the ceasefire."
Turkey supplying weapons, fighters to militants in NW Syria: Russian Defense Min
The war of words between Russia and Turkey over Syria is hotting up: Russia has accused Turkey of supplying weapons and fighters to militants in north western Syria.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters at a press briefing today that Turkey was behaving "provocatively" at its border with Syria.
"I want to bring another fact about the provocative actions of Turkey on the Syrian border. Here is an image of the checkpoint on the Turkey-Syria border near Reyhanli-Sarmada. It is through this checkpoint, mostly at night, that replenishments of fighters and weapons are carried out from Turkish territory to the terrorists who have captured the towns of Aleppo and Idlib in north western Syria," Konashenkov said.
Konashenkov said that Russia's "American and NATO partners" call the transport convoys containing weapons "humanitarian aid" and that Turkey has jailed journalists who have tried to find out what is contained in the trucks.
Changes to transport infrastructure on Turkey-Syria border could be evidence of planned invasion: Russian Defense Ministry
RIA Novosti is reporting that the Russian Defense Ministry -- which is giving a press briefing this afternoon -- has said that changes to the transport infrastructure on the Turkey-Syria border could be evidence of preparations for a military invasion of Syria by Turkey.
Russian bombs triggering mass exodus from Aleppo: Turkish PM
Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that Russian air strikes in Syria have triggered a mass exodus of people from Aleppo toward the Turkish border.
Davutoglu made its comments at a Syria donors' conference in London.
Tensions between Russia and Turkey have soared since Turkey downed a Russian bomber near the Syrian border in November. Turkey has accused Russia of bombing Turkoman rebels in Latakia province, while Russia has claimed that Turkey is supplying weapons and fighters to Syrian rebel groups across its border.
The Russian Defense Ministry is tweeting its accusations that Syrian rebels -- including Islamists -- are being supplied with weapons and fighters via Turkey.
The Russian Defense Ministry has posted photos on its English-language Facebook account that it says shows changes to the transport infrastructure on the Turkey-Syria border near Reyhanli that the ministry says could be evidence of a planned invasion by Turkey.
However, during war-time, in such a way the transport infrastructure is preparing on the eve of military intervention. And such platforms are used for supporting the rapid movement of military convoys carrying ammunition and weapons in the war zone, as well as for operational personnel deployment and evacuation.