Syria's President Bashar
al-Assad has held meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on an unexpected
visit to Moscow.
Russian
presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Mr. Assad "came on a operational
visit to Moscow" on Tuesday evening and held talks with Mr. Putin.
Russia
begin air strikes in Syria at the last part of last month.
Moscow
says it is targeting Islamic State and other militant groups fighting Mr.
Assad's government.
Mr.
Peskov told journalists that the 2 leaders had discussed the clash against what
he called terrorist groups, the continuation of Russian air strikes and Syria's
strategy for its troops.
It
is not clear if Mr. Assad is still in Moscow or has returned to Damascus.
It
was the first abroad visit made by Mr. Assad since the civil war broke out in
Syria in 2011, Syrian state TV reports.
In
a transcript of explanation by the 2 leaders, given out by the Kremlin, Mr.
Putin described Syria as a "friend" and said Russia was prepared to
contribute "not only to military action... but to the political process
too" to bring peace to the country.
He
said Russia was concerned that at least 4,000 citizens from the former Soviet
Union were fighting with rebels groups in Syria. "We cannot permit them -
once they get fighting experience and ideological preparation - to turn up in
Russia".