Syria’s new leader calls on Russia to hand over Assad

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Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has requested that Moscow hands over former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, according to a Syrian source who spoke to Reuters, The New Arab via Reuters reported on January 29th.

Assad fled to Russia when he was toppled by Sharaa’s rebels last month.

Russia announced on January 29th it had held “frank” discussions with Syria’s new de facto leader as it tries to keep its two military bases in the country, but it refused to comment on what he was demanding in exchange.

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Sana, a Syrian news agency, reported that Damascus wants “concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction and recovery” from Russia, who was a backer of Assad’s regime.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on whether Russia was asked to return Assad and provide compensation.

Russia wants to retain its naval base in Tartous and its Hmeimim air base, which is near the port city of Latakia.

The new Syrian administration said that it had “stressed that restoring relations must address past mistakes, respect the will of the Syrian people and serve their interests,” following talks on January 28th with a Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

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However, the Syrian source told Reuters that the Russians were unwilling to acknowledge these mistakes, and that the only agreement that was made was to continue the talks.

Russia’s foreign ministry said that the two sides would pursue further discussions in order to achieve “relevant agreements,” without referring to the two bases.

The New Arab via Reuters

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