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WORLD NEWSWednesday 28 October
Russia pounds Syrian rebels, then reaches out to opposition
SARAH EL DEEB ment to finding a negoti- Free Syrian Army fighters look at a Syrian Army jet, not pictured, in Fafeen village, north of Aleppo
Associated Press ated solution to the four- province, Syria. When Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country is ready to aid Syrian
BEIRUT (AP) — When Rus- year civil war. The seeming rebels fighting Islamic State militants on the ground, rebel commanders scoffed at the notion,
sian Foreign Minister Sergei change of tune is in sharp pointing out that Russian aircraft were pounding rebel bases in central and northern Syria on daily
Lavrov said his country was contrast to the stance of basis.
ready to aid Syrian rebels Syrian President Bashar
fighting the Islamic State Assad, who considers all (AP Photo/Manu Brabo, File)
group, rebel command- rebels on the ground to be
ers scoffed, pointing out terrorists. “The rebel commanders individual commanders on erate and anti-terrorist op-
that Russian aircraft were “Maybe there is a discon- are considering this possibil- the ground or through me- position factions in Syria.
pounding their bases in nect between the regime’s ity ... If they sit with (Russian diators. “I would say frankly that it
central and northern Syria discourse and that of the officials), they say they can Lavrov first made the offer hasn’t been easy to find
on a daily basis. Russians,” said Munzer Ab- find out if they are bluffing.” last week. On Tuesday, he them, and we are still con-
Moreover, Lavrov not long kik, of the Syrian National Russia says it has already repeated it, saying, “We tinuing the search,” Lav-
ago had ridiculed the main Coalition, an opposition met with rebel command- would like and would be rov said. Retired Lebanese
Western-backed rebels group in exile that coordi- ers in Moscow, a claim ready to help not only the army Gen. Hisham Jaber,
known as the Free Syrian nates with the Free Syrian denied by the opposition Syrian army, but all op- who is familiar with the Syr-
Army, calling the group a Army. “We are watching and their political allies. But position units confronting ian military, said Russia is
“phantom structure.” cautiously in the coming some mediators and politi- terrorists on the ground in looking to show flexibility.
But some in the Syrian op- days to see if they are se- cians who coordinate with Syria.” He said Moscow was “The aim is political ... to
position are wondering rious about finding a politi- the Free Syrian Army say reaching out to the United talk to those in the trench-
whether the Russian offer, cal solution through a real the Russians have reached States and countries in the es, not those in hotels,”
for all its ambiguity, might transition of power, or if out to the rebels, either to region to help locate mod- Jaber said. q
be worth seizing in order they are simply maneuver-
to test Moscow’s commit- ing to gain time,” he said.
EU lashes nations on migrant crisis
LORNE COOK from Italy and Greece, 160,000 refugees from Italy
Associated Press boost spending and send and Greece over the next
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- police, border guards and two years to ease their bur-
pean Union appealed to experts to help register the den.
member countries on Tues- arrivals. “Nine member states have
day to deliver on promises But so far actions have not let us know that they can
to deal with the refugee matched the speeches soon relocate 700 people,”
emergency, warning that delivered at five migration- Juncker said. “But let’s not
the EU’s credibility is at focused summits this year. forget that we have a de-
stake. “The gap between the cision to relocate 160,000
More than 600,000 people pledges and what is on the refugees in need of inter-
have entered Europe by table must be reduced, national protection.”
land and sea this year seek- otherwise we are losing all The EU’s border agency
ing sanctuary or jobs, over- kinds of credibility,” Euro- Frontex has appealed for
whelming border authori- pean Commission Presi- 775 experts to help regis-
ties and reception facilities. dent Jean-Claude Juncker ter, screen and fingerprint
More than 3,000 have died. told EU lawmakers. people, but so far almost
In response, EU leaders The EU’s executive arm has half that number has been
promised to share refugees drawn up plans to move pledged.q
