Kerry Meets Russia's Lavrov on Syria Cooperation Plan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, met Tuesday to discuss a US proposal for closer military cooperation on Syria.
They met on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian nations in Laos, the second time they have met this month to discuss the Syria plan, which would see Washington and Moscow share intelligence to coordinate airstrikes against the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.
Kerry's State Department and White House allies say the plan is the best chance to limit the fighting in Syria, as well as preserving a political track.
The meeting in Laos comes amid accusations that Russia is behind the hacking of Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails released by Wikileaks Friday, Reuters reported.
Lavrov brushed aside the accusations at the start of his meeting with Kerry, saying, "I don't want to use four-letter words."
The FBI said it was investigating a cyber-intrusion at the DNC, which has led to discord as the party's convention in Philadelphia opens Monday to nominate former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton as its candidate.
