Russia ready to host Syria, rebels for talks

Russia ready to host Syria, rebels for talks
DAMASCUS/MOSCOW Russia is ready to host informal talks between Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s government and the opposition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Wednesday, as bomb attacks in Syria’s capital Damascus and the country’s south killed 16 people. The Itar-Tass news agency quoted Bogdanov as saying that the consultations “do not necessarily have to end in some sort of agreement.”

As Kerry met Egyptian and Saudi leaders, planning advanced for a Russian naval base in Egypt
Moscow’s request for a naval base in Egypt submitted last week by a visiting Russian general prompted US Secretary of State John Kerry’s decision to hurry up and visit Cairo and Riyadh for an attempt to smooth their prickly relations over Washington’s policies for Syria and Iran. However, Sunday, Nov. 3, the day he stopped over in Cairo en route for Riyadh, saw a mighty buildup of Russian naval strength in the Mediterranean.