Putin defends Russia's air strikes

 

A Hezbollah funeral: The Shia Muslim militants are fighting alongside Syrian government troops against rebel groups 

 

President Vladimir Putin has defended Russia's military operations in Syria, saying the aim is to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia wants to "create conditions for a political compromise" in Syria, he told Russian state TV.

On Monday the EU's foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, called Russia's role "a game-changer". She said: "It has some very worrying elements."

EU ministers are discussing Syria now.

Going into the Luxembourg meeting, several foreign ministers stressed that air strikes should only target so-called Islamic State (IS) fighters and other Islamist "terrorists".

The US and UK governments have accused Russia of attacking mainly "moderate" anti-Assad groups, rather than the jihadists.

Mr Putin denied that that was the case.

More with video @ BBC

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