Russia urged to explain Syria buildup as diplomatic drive steps up

Russia faced mounting calls on Sept.24 to explain its intentions in the Syrian conflict as European diplomats met after Germany's leader said President Bashar al-Assad should be involved in any peace talks.

Europe's migrant crisis has given fresh impetus to efforts to end Syria's brutal four-year conflict and the question of Assad's role in an eventual solution is firmly back in the spotlight.
 
"We have to speak with many actors, this includes Assad, but others as well," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said late on Sept.23.
 
She was speaking ahead of a meeting in Paris on Sept.24 between the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, as Europe seeks to revive dormant efforts to resolve the crisis.
 
"The idea is to clarify positions, to know how each side sees a political transition in Syria, to find a common European position ahead of the UN General Assembly" which begins on Sept.27, a French diplomatic source told AFP.
 
Russia stoked fresh fears in the West on Sept.24 over its military buildup in Syria by announcing it would hold naval drills in the eastern Mediterranean region in September and October.
 
While the exercises were not linked to the conflict, they come after a Russian  buildup of troops, tanks and fighter jets in Syria, its long-standing ally.
 
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called on Moscow to justify the "very significant" buildup and said if its intention was "to protect President Bashar al-Assad", it should say so.
 
British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, speaking alongside Le Drian after they held talks, said he was "equally concerned" by the Russian buildup in Syria "which will only complicate...