Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has cancelled a planned visit to France amid a row over Syria.<\/p>\n
He had been due to meet French President Francois Hollande and open a new Orthodox church later this month.<\/p>\n
But after France’s government said talks would be confined to Syria the visit was halted, French presidential sources said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Mr Hollande suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria’s city of Aleppo.<\/p>\n
The French presidency had told the Russians Mr Hollande would attend only one event with Mr Putin during the visit planned for 19 October – a working meeting on Syria, according to the sources.<\/p>\n
But after this Russia “let it be known that it wanted to postpone the visit”, they added.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Mr Putin confirmed the trip had been cancelled, adding that the visit would take place when it becomes “comfortable for President Hollande”.<\/p>\n
Despite this Mr Hollande has said he will meet Mr Putin at “any time” if it would “further peace”.<\/p>\n
The development comes a day after Mr Hollande told French TV that prosecutions over Syria could take place in the International Criminal Court (ICC).<\/p>\n
“These are people who today are the victims of war crimes. Those that commit these acts will have to face up to their responsibility, including in the ICC,” he said.<\/p>\n
Neither Russia nor Syria is a member of the ICC.<\/p>\n
Moscow has repeatedly denied attacking civilians, and says it targets terrorist groups in Syria.<\/p>\n
The besieged east of Aleppo has come under intense aerial bombardment since a cessation of hostilities brokered by the US and Moscow collapsed last month.<\/p>\n
The area was hit again on Tuesday in some of the heaviest air strikes in days, a monitoring group and activists said.<\/p>\n
Eight civilians were killed in strikes on the Bustan al-Qasr and Fardos districts, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Diplomatic efforts to revive the ceasefire have so far come to nothing.<\/p>\n
The UN has warned that eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 275,000 people still live, could face “total destruction” in two months.<\/p>\n
Last week Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in Aleppo.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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