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Syria crisis: Russia's Foreign Minister meets al-Assad
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad amid a renewed government assault on rebel forces.
February 07, 2012
(BBC NEWS) Damascus - Mr Lavrov was greeted by pro-Assad crowds as he arrived in Damascus. The visit comes after Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed UN resolution criticising the crackdown in Syria.
Turkey has said it will start a new international initiative on Syria.
The Syrian army has been pounding the rebel stronghold of Homs for days.