Russia sends warships to its base in Syria

Moscow: Russia is sending a flotilla of warships to its naval base in Syria in a show of force which suggests Moscow is willing to defend its interests in the strife-torn country as international pressure mounts on President Bashar Al Assad's government.

Arab League sanctions and French calls for the establishment of humanitarian zones in Syria have increased international pressure on Al Assad to end bloodshed that the UN says has killed 3,500 people during nine months of protests against his rule.

Russia, which has a naval maintenance base in Syria and whose weapons trade with Damascus is worth millions of dollars annually, joined China last month to veto a western-backed UN Security Council resolution condemning Al Assad's government.

Izvestia reported yesterday, citing retired Russian Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, that Russia plans to send its flagship aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov along with a patrol ship, an anti-submarine craft and other vessels. "Having any military force apart from Nato is very beneficial for the region as it prevents the outbreak of armed conflict," Kravchenko, who was navy chief of staff from 1998-2005, was quoted as saying by Izvestia.

A navy spokesman quoted by the newspaper confirmed that the Russian warships would head to the maintenance base Russia keeps on the Syrian coast near Tartus but said the trip had nothing to do with the uprising against Assad.

The paper said the aircraft carrier would be armed with at least eight Sukhoi-33 fighters, several MiG-29K fighters and two helicopters. It will also have cruise and surface to air missiles, the paper said. A navy spokesman was not available to comment. Yegor Engelhart, an analyst with Moscow-based defence think-tank CAST, said Moscow did not want its position to be ignored while the Al Assad regime was under pressure.

"At the very least Moscow wants to show that it is willing to defend its interests in Syria," he said.