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Russia sends planes to Beirut for Russians in Syria Syria crisis: Russia to evacuate citizens from Beirut
(about 1 hour later)
Russia is sending two passenger planes to Beirut to fly home Russian citizens who have fled the conflict in Syria.Russia is sending two passenger planes to Beirut to fly home Russian citizens who have fled the conflict in Syria.
The emergency situations ministry said more than 100 people were expected to board the aircraft on Tuesday.The emergency situations ministry said more than 100 people were expected to board the aircraft on Tuesday.
The foreign ministry has contingency plans for the large-scale evacuation of 30,000 Russian citizens in Syria.The foreign ministry has contingency plans for the large-scale evacuation of 30,000 Russian citizens in Syria.
It would be the first such airlift since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. Moscow has been a staunch ally.It would be the first such airlift since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. Moscow has been a staunch ally.
Russia has used its veto power on the UN Security Council to block resolutions seeking to condemn Mr Assad or impose sanctions. Medical teams are expected to be on board the planes, the BBC's Steven Rosenberg reports from Moscow.
Last month, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov became the first senior Russian official to acknowledge publicly that the Syrian government might be defeated by opposition forces. However, this does not appear to be the start of a full-scale evacuation of Russian nationals, which would almost certainly involve the Russian navy, our correspondent adds.
Loss of control
Moscow has refused to join international calls for President Assad to step down. Russia has used its veto power on the UN Security Council to block resolutions seeking to condemn the Syrian leader or impose sanctions.
But last month, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov became the first senior Russian official to acknowledge publicly that the Syrian government might be defeated by opposition forces.
Syria's government was "progressively losing control", he said, adding that "the victory of the Syrian opposition cannot be excluded".Syria's government was "progressively losing control", he said, adding that "the victory of the Syrian opposition cannot be excluded".
The foreign ministry later clarified Mr Bogdanov's comments, insisting Russia had not changed its position on Syria and "never will".The foreign ministry later clarified Mr Bogdanov's comments, insisting Russia had not changed its position on Syria and "never will".
In a separate development, the chief of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, said UN efforts to help resolve the Syrian crisis had faltered. In a separate development on Monday, the chief of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, said UN efforts to help resolve the Syrian crisis had faltered.
"I have to say that all contacts made by the special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi have so far not yielded a flicker of hope to put this crisis on the exit track," Mr al-Arabi said on Monday at an economic summit in Saudi Arabia."I have to say that all contacts made by the special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi have so far not yielded a flicker of hope to put this crisis on the exit track," Mr al-Arabi said on Monday at an economic summit in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this month, talks in Geneva between Mr Brahimi and senior US and Russian diplomats ended without a breakthrough.Earlier this month, talks in Geneva between Mr Brahimi and senior US and Russian diplomats ended without a breakthrough.
The talks had been aimed at discussing how to implement a plan proposed last June by the Action Group for Syria, which called for an immediate cessation of violence and the establishment of a transitional government.The talks had been aimed at discussing how to implement a plan proposed last June by the Action Group for Syria, which called for an immediate cessation of violence and the establishment of a transitional government.
Responding to a question after the meeting, Mr Brahimi said: "If you are asking whether there is a solution around the corner, I'm not sure that is the case."Responding to a question after the meeting, Mr Brahimi said: "If you are asking whether there is a solution around the corner, I'm not sure that is the case."
The UN said recently that more than 60,000 people had been killed since the uprising against the president began in March 2011. The UN said recently that more than 60,000 people had been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.