INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Islamist-led rebels in Syria announced they had seized Damascus in a swift offensive on Sunday, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee
the country and bringing an end to five decades of Baath rule in Syria.President Vladimir Putin, who helped Assad to stay in power when
Assad and several participants in the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, he made the decision to resign from the presidency and
Russia's position was outlined by the Foreign Ministry.The Russian Embassy in Syria told the state-run TASS news agency that all its staff
to require our support, it will be provided
However, it is unlikely to extend to the conditions of a full-scale civil war
Syrians will have to handle that on their own," Kosachev said."For us, as Russians, the primary task is to ensure the safety of our
compatriots and civilians, including diplomats and their families, as well as, of course, the military personnel who are there for the sake
facilities in Tartus and Khmeimim which are used as repair hubs and staging posts to transfer its military contractors in and out of
held talks with fellow Assad ally Iran and opposition supporter Turkey in Qatar, aimed at preventing Syria from collapsing into chaos after
the insurgent offenses.Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that Syria must not be allowed to fall into the hands of a "terrorist
group," referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that has headed the assault and is rooted in the Syrian branch of
HTS has sought to soften its image in recent years but remains proscribed as a "terrorist organization" by Western governments.HTS took
Damascus on Sunday.AFP contributed reporting.
