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RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR Putin has ordered the removal of Russian troops from Syria.
He made the announcement during a surprise visit to Russia’s airbase in Syria.
“I order the defence minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases,” he said.
I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia.
Putin was welcomed at the base by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, among other officials.
He has long been a supporter of al-Assad, which is at odds with western countries that have called for the removal of the Syrian President.
Russia, along with Iran, is the key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Moscow’s military intervention inside Syria is widely seen as having tipped the balance in the civil war.
The Russian President was also due to visit Turkey today, for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The latest encounter between the two leaders comes at a time of intense diplomacy between Turkey and Russia, especially over Syria.
It will be their eighth face-to-face meeting this year.
Turkey, however, has backed the rebels seeking Assad’s ouster in a conflict that has left more than 330,000 dead.
But Russia and Turkey have been working together since a 2016 reconciliation deal ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria.
In recent months, Turkey has markedly toned down its criticism of the Assad regime and focused on opposing a Syrian Kurdish militia seen by Ankara as a terror group.
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That’s a sentence
@David Harries: life without possibility of parole would be better but 40 years is a start! Irish system could learn! Start with doubling most sentences given seems about right
@kevinhunt101: The problem with the Irish System is that there is an over emphasis on custodial sentences for non-violent/serious crimes. If more people were given suspend sentences which involved monitoring and work for the state then it would (I) potentially self-fund itself (ii) reduce the overcrowding problem with our prisons.
This would then free up the necessary space for the people who are an actual danger to society to be imprisoned for longer.
@Thn: agree, large fines and compulsory payments (taken from income source) for non violent crimes need to be implemented! Free up prison space for non violent crimes! Also more solitary confinement for violent and repeat offenders. Planned murder should be min 40 years no possibility of parole, no good behavior taken into account, no good family person etc etc! Multiple murders should be death penalty, reduce costs to state. Are they really sorry, no if they committed 2 or more murders.
He had molested the girl who survived when she was 13 but her family chose to believe him
Some down right sick puppies out there. Well done for sentence handed down.
Should be out to death. Simple.
What a beautiful young woman. What an utterly sick, monster. A life sentence seems generous
@Dave O Keeffe: yeah Dave sexist pig monster
@Sandra O’Fucáif: on a different note Sandra are u still claiming that there are thousands of Egyptian Copts living here like illegally
@johnp: I think that Sandra need a new avatar.
@Sandra O’Fucáif: oh move along
The Chinese have the right idea. Why keep this bit of trash alive when one in the back of the head would release millions of Pounds to improve the Health Service !
Really really evil, this guy should just be shot.
What a beaitiful woman and waste of a lfe.. sentencing is just and we need to review our sentences here which is a joke tbh.
That fella was no addition to any country !
40 years is a joke. Should be tortured for 40 years
Just kill the sick f##ker
@john: and do it nice and slowly.
Ain’t Multiculturalism great.
have your say