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Russian warplanes leave Syria

UN, opposition hails Putin's surprise move to withdraw troops from the country

AFP, Moscow
The first of Russia's warplanes to leave Syria received a hero's welcome back home yesterday, starting a surprise withdrawal the West hopes could boost peace talks by pressuring Damascus.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura described the withdrawal announcement as a "significant development” for negotiations that began in Geneva on Monday in the latest push to end the brutal conflict as it enters its sixth year.
The White House yesterday said Russia so far appears to be fulfilling the decision to withdraw troops from Syria, but cautioned it was too soon to judge the impact.
President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the "main part" of Russia's forces out of the war-torn nation, but the Kremlin denied it was trying to pressure its long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad.
Putin said Russia had largely fulfilled its objectives of a campaign which has so far cost Russia $700-$800 million according to a Reuters estimate, an additional financial burden for Moscow at a time of low oil prices.
Russia will, however, keep a contingent at its air and naval
bases in Syria and a senior official said strikes against "terrorist targets" would continue. It would also be keeping its most advanced air defence system, the S-400, in Syria.
Despite the initial pullout, a monitoring group said Russian helicopters - and likely warplanes -- which are still in Syria had pounded Islamic State group positions as regime troops pressed an advance.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP that "Russian helicopters and warplanes, that are likely
Russian" had struck IS targets around the ancient city of Palmyra. There was no official confirmation from Moscow.
Meanwhile, one Al-Qaeda linked group branded the withdrawal a "defeat" and vowed to launch a new offensive in Syria.
The West reacted cautiously to the announcement, since Moscow is yet to specify a timeframe for completing the withdrawal. The White House said President Barack Obama had spoken to Putin following Russia’s announcement, and discussed the "next steps required to fully implement the cessation of
hostilities".
Some governments expressed hope the Russian move could push Assad to negotiate, but in Geneva both sides remained locked in a bitter dispute over his fate.
The talks opened after a temporary ceasefire between Assad's forces and opponents went into force on February 27 and has largely held, although it does not cover IS jihadists and al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the al-Nusra Front.
Syria's main opposition said it hoped Russia's move could lead to an end to the war, but wanted to see change on the ground.
In a positive development, High Negotiations Committee (HNC) also said it was not against a direct meeting with the government.
Damascus sparked Western anger by staking out an uncompromising stance before the talks, insisting that discussions on Assad's removal were a "redline" they would not cross.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said a Russian withdrawal "increases the pressure" on Assad to negotiate, while France's foreign ministry said "anything that helps towards a de-escalation in Syria should be encouraged".