Russia removes military personnel from Syria, fearing saftey

Russia has withdrawn all its military personnel from Syria and left its strategic Tartus naval centre unstaffed because of the escalating security threat in the war-torn country, the Vedomosti daily said Wednesday.

The paper cited an unnamed source in the Russian defense ministry as saying that no Russian defense ministry military or civilian personnel were now present in Syria and said the decision was taken to limit the dangers posed to Russians and to reduce the threat of political damage that could result from Russians being killed by either side. (AFP)