Putin urges US to hold off on striking Syria

[August 31, 2013]  MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is urging President Barack Obama not to rush into any decision on striking Syria, but to consider whether strikes would help end the violence and be worth the likely civilian casualties.

Saturday's statements were the first from Putin since the suspected chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21.

Putin advised Obama to reflect on the results of U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq before deciding to unleash air strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

[Associated Press]

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