Russia urges international coalition on terrorism

In spite of the shooting down of a Russian fighter plane by Turkey Moscow seeks an international coalition in the fight against terrorism. The stressed Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov before a meeting of French President Francois Hollande with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on this Thursday in Moscow. Russia wanted a "broad anti-terrorism front, a real coalition," Ryabkov told Interfax news agency. For this purpose, there is no alternative.

Russia rated the shooting in the Turkish-Syrian border region as a planned provocation. One aim of the action on Tuesday might have been to undermine the formation of an international coalition, said Ryabkov. This should not succeed.

Putin welcomes Hollande on Thursday for talks on a common fight against terrorism. The US reject any military cooperation with Russia as long as Moscow supports the Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad.