Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has said that the decision of a US Congressional panel to cut aid to the country is inspired by &#39;baseless concerns&#39; of &#39;a section of US lawmakers&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Last week, a US Congressional panel met to hold discussions regarding foreign aid provided to Pakistan. Congressman Matthew Salmon, during the meet, gave opening statements against giving further aid to &lsquo;terrorism abetting&rsquo; Pakistan. &nbsp; 
 
Salmon further added that Pakistan was holding Dr Shakil Afridi in jail for helping the US capture and kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and that this kind of relation is not acceptable to the US.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;This country (Pakistan) poses challenges that has plagued the United States for decades,&rdquo; he added. 
 
Another Congressman, Bill Keating, argued during the meet held on July 12 that Pakistan supports the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist organisations, and that &ldquo;these things undermine critical US national security interests.&rdquo; &nbsp; 
 
This discussion paved the way for some of the strongest remarks to come out of US Congress on Pakistan in recent years. Pertinently, earlier this year, the sale of F-16 fighter jets was blocked by the US government for fear of Pakistan misusing them for terrorism-related activities.&nbsp; 
 
The panel also proposed that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are &lsquo;state sponsors of terrorism&rsquo;.&nbsp; 
 
It may be recalled, however, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama have previously vowed to work together to step up &#39;fight against terrorism&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Also, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, carried out by the Pakistani military has so far killed more than 2,500 militants across 9,000 intelligence operations in various parts of Pakistan.&nbsp; 
 
Titled &#39;Pakistan: Friend or Foe&#39;, the discussion was mostly against further financial support of Pakistan due to the various terrorist havens that the Congress believes are untouched by the Pakistani military.&nbsp; 
 
What remains to be seen is if the US Congress would pass such a move in near future.&nbsp;

The US Congressional panel also suggested last week that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are ?state sponsors of terrorism?

Pakistan’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz has said that the decision of a US Congressional panel to cut aid to the country is inspired by 'baseless concerns' of 'a section of US lawmakers'. Last week, a US Congressional panel met to hold discussions regarding foreign aid provided to Pakistan. Congressman Matthew Salmon, during the meet, gave opening statements against giving further aid to ‘terrorism abetting’ Pakistan. Salmon further added that Pakistan was holding Dr Shakil Afridi in jail for helping the US capture and kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and that this kind of relation is not acceptable to the US. “This country (Pakistan) poses challenges that has plagued the United States for decades,” he added. Another Congressman, Bill Keating, argued during the meet held on July 12 that Pakistan supports the Taliban, Haqqani network and other terrorist organisations, and that “these things undermine critical US national security interests.” This discussion paved the way for some of the strongest remarks to come out of US Congress on Pakistan in recent years. Pertinently, earlier this year, the sale of F-16 fighter jets was blocked by the US government for fear of Pakistan misusing them for terrorism-related activities. The panel also proposed that Pakistan be added to a list of countries that are ‘state sponsors of terrorism’. It may be recalled, however, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama have previously vowed to work together to step up 'fight against terrorism'. Also, Operation Zarb-e-Azb, carried out by the Pakistani military has so far killed more than 2,500 militants across 9,000 intelligence operations in various parts of Pakistan. Titled 'Pakistan: Friend or Foe', the discussion was mostly against further financial support of Pakistan due to the various terrorist havens that the Congress believes are untouched by the Pakistani military. What remains to be seen is if the US Congress would pass such a move in near future.

US lawmakers' plan to cut aid for Pakistan inspired by baseless concerns: Aziz

The United States urged Turkey on Saturday to exercise restraint after a failed military coup sparked a government crackdown, and warned its NATO ally that public suggestions of a US role in the plot were &quot;utterly false&quot; and harmful to relations. 
 
President Barack Obama urged parties on all sides of the crisis to avoid destabilising Turkey and follow the rule of law after the coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan. 
 
The coup attempt complicated US-led efforts to combat Islamic State. Turkey closed its airspace to military aircraft and power was cut off to Incirlik air base, which US forces use to launch air attacks against the militant group. 
 
US officials were working with Turkish officials to resume air operations quickly, the Pentagon said. 
 
Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that authorities should respect the rule of law during their probe of the coup. 
 
He also said &quot;public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations,&quot; the State Department said. 
 
Turkey has long been a key US ally but relations have been strained in recent years and Erdogan&#39;s government has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the coup attempt. 
 
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey, and Erdogan urged Washington to deport the cleric.&nbsp;Kerry said the United States was willing to help Turkey as it tries to identify those involved in the coup attempt, but made clear it would only act if there was evidence against Gulen. 
 
&quot;We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen, and obviously we invite the government of Turkey ... to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments appropriately,&quot; he said. 
 
Gulen has condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement in it. 
 
Obama conferred with his national security and foreign policy advisers on Saturday morning and reiterated his support for the &quot;democratically-elected, civilian&quot; government of Turkey. 
 
&quot;While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability,&quot; the White House said. 
 
Obama noted the United States needed continued cooperation from Turkey in the fight against terrorism. 
 
Forces loyal to Erdogan largely crushed the last remnants of the coup on Saturday as he launched a purge of the armed forces to tighten his grip on power.&nbsp;Turkey scrambled jets throughout Friday night to resist the coup launched by a faction within Turkey&#39;s military that saw rebels piloting military aircraft. 
 
The Incirlik air base near Adana in the southeast of the country was running on internal power sources after a loss of commercial power to the base, the Pentagon said. 
 
&quot;US officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible,&quot; said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. &quot;In the meantime, US Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimise any effects on the campaign.&quot; 
 
Threat to coalition fight 
 
Erdogan has cooperated with Washington in the fight against Islamic State, but relations have been rocky with US criticism of Erdogan&#39;s increasing authoritarianism, Turkey&#39;s support for Islamist opposition groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the slow pace in sealing Turkey&#39;s border with Syria to foreign fighters. 
 
The closing of the airspace over Incirlik effectively grounded US aircraft and drones that have been instrumental in the campaign to crush Islamic State in Syria, including supporting drives by Syrian Kurds and moderate Arabs, who are being advised by US special forces, to seize the militant-held city of Manbij and Raqqa, the &quot;capital&quot; of the caliphate declared by Islamic State. 
 
&quot;Clearly the variable here is how long the closure will last,&quot; said Jeffrey White, a former senior Defense Intelligence Agency analyst now with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. &quot;If we&#39;re unable to fly from Incirlik, it will have a significant impact on the air campaign.&quot; 
 
A Turkish presidency official in Istanbul said the move was temporary and aimed at preventing rogue aircraft from targetting civilians and government buildings. 
 
&quot;This is a short-term measure which won&#39;t have significant effect on coalition operations,&quot; the official said. &quot;We have discussed this measure with our colleagues in Washington as well and they understand our concerns.&quot; 
 
A prolonged closure of Incirlik&#39;s airspace could force the United States to divert aircraft based in the Persian Gulf to the Manbij and Raqqa offensives, constraining the air power available to support Iraqi and US forces involved in operations against Islamic State. 
 
It could also complicate the Pentagon&rsquo;s ability to resupply and aid US special forces inside Syria. 
 
(Reuters)

US President urges to exercise restraint, but also warns NATO-ally against insinuating America had anything to do with the coup

The United States urged Turkey on Saturday to exercise restraint after a failed military coup sparked a government crackdown, and warned its NATO ally that public suggestions of a US role in the plot were "utterly false" and harmful to relations. President Barack Obama urged parties on all sides of the crisis to avoid destabilising Turkey and follow the rule of law after the coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan. The coup attempt complicated US-led efforts to combat Islamic State. Turkey closed its airspace to military aircraft and power was cut off to Incirlik air base, which US forces use to launch air attacks against the militant group. US officials were working with Turkish officials to resume air operations quickly, the Pentagon said. Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that authorities should respect the rule of law during their probe of the coup. He also said "public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations," the State Department said. Turkey has long been a key US ally but relations have been strained in recent years and Erdogan's government has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the coup attempt. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey, and Erdogan urged Washington to deport the cleric. Kerry said the United States was willing to help Turkey as it tries to identify those involved in the coup attempt, but made clear it would only act if there was evidence against Gulen. "We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen, and obviously we invite the government of Turkey ... to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments appropriately," he said. Gulen has condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement in it. Obama conferred with his national security and foreign policy advisers on Saturday morning and reiterated his support for the "democratically-elected, civilian" government of Turkey. "While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability," the White House said. Obama noted the United States needed continued cooperation from Turkey in the fight against terrorism. Forces loyal to Erdogan largely crushed the last remnants of the coup on Saturday as he launched a purge of the armed forces to tighten his grip on power. Turkey scrambled jets throughout Friday night to resist the coup launched by a faction within Turkey's military that saw rebels piloting military aircraft. The Incirlik air base near Adana in the southeast of the country was running on internal power sources after a loss of commercial power to the base, the Pentagon said. "US officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. "In the meantime, US Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimise any effects on the campaign." Threat to coalition fight Erdogan has cooperated with Washington in the fight against Islamic State, but relations have been rocky with US criticism of Erdogan's increasing authoritarianism, Turkey's support for Islamist opposition groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the slow pace in sealing Turkey's border with Syria to foreign fighters. The closing of the airspace over Incirlik effectively grounded US aircraft and drones that have been instrumental in the campaign to crush Islamic State in Syria, including supporting drives by Syrian Kurds and moderate Arabs, who are being advised by US special forces, to seize the militant-held city of Manbij and Raqqa, the "capital" of the caliphate declared by Islamic State. "Clearly the variable here is how long the closure will last," said Jeffrey White, a former senior Defense Intelligence Agency analyst now with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "If we're unable to fly from Incirlik, it will have a significant impact on the air campaign." A Turkish presidency official in Istanbul said the move was temporary and aimed at preventing rogue aircraft from targetting civilians and government buildings. "This is a short-term measure which won't have significant effect on coalition operations," the official said. "We have discussed this measure with our colleagues in Washington as well and they understand our concerns." A prolonged closure of Incirlik's airspace could force the United States to divert aircraft based in the Persian Gulf to the Manbij and Raqqa offensives, constraining the air power available to support Iraqi and US forces involved in operations against Islamic State. It could also complicate the Pentagon’s ability to resupply and aid US special forces inside Syria. (Reuters)

Any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey: Prime Minister Yildirim

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that Washington had had no idea that a coup attempt was brewing in NATO ally Turkey before Friday&#39;s bloody events. 
 
But he added that the failed &#39;putsch&#39; had apparently been incompetently executed, and restated Washington&#39;s support for President Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s elected government. 
 
&quot;If you&#39;re planning a coup you don&#39;t exactly advertise it to your partners in NATO,&quot; Kerry told reporters who asked how US intelligence could have been surprised by events. 
 
&quot;It surprised everybody, including the people in Turkey,&quot; the top US diplomat added, speaking in Luxembourg during a diplomatic tour of European capitals.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I must say, it does not appear to have been a very brilliantly planned or executed event, but let&#39;s reserve all judgment until the facts are in,&quot; he asserted.&nbsp; 
 
The United States and Turkey are close military allies within NATO and US war planes targeting the Islamic State group fly out of the major Incirlik air base. 
 
(AFP)

If you're planning coup, you don't advertise it to your partners in NATO: John Kerry said when asked how US intelligence missed this

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that Washington had had no idea that a coup attempt was brewing in NATO ally Turkey before Friday's bloody events. But he added that the failed 'putsch' had apparently been incompetently executed, and restated Washington's support for President Tayyip Erdogan's elected government. "If you're planning a coup you don't exactly advertise it to your partners in NATO," Kerry told reporters who asked how US intelligence could have been surprised by events. "It surprised everybody, including the people in Turkey," the top US diplomat added, speaking in Luxembourg during a diplomatic tour of European capitals. "I must say, it does not appear to have been a very brilliantly planned or executed event, but let's reserve all judgment until the facts are in," he asserted. The United States and Turkey are close military allies within NATO and US war planes targeting the Islamic State group fly out of the major Incirlik air base. (AFP)

No one saw Turkey coup bid coming: US envoy

US secretary of state John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin about boosting military and intelligence cooperation against Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria and told him that without &quot;concrete, near-term steps&quot;, diplomatic efforts to end the war could not go on indefinitely. 
 
Kerry met Putin for three hours at the Kremlin and their talks lasted until 1am local time on Friday. 
 
The state department said Kerry expressed concern about repeated violations of a cessation of hostilities by the Moscow-backed Syrian government. It said the two also discussed the need to increase pressure on groups like Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda&#39;s affiliate in Syria. 
 
Kerry &quot;emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely&quot;, a statement said, adding that discussions between Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday were expected to explore initiatives in more detail. 
 
On Thursday, the Washington Post published a leaked document it said Kerry would put forward in Moscow calling for intelligence sharing to identify leadership targets, training camps, supply lines and headquarters of the Nusra Front, al Qaeda&#39;s affiliate in Syria. 
 
It said strikes against those targets could be carried out by US or Russian jets and expanded coordination would be channelled through a Joint Implementation Group based in the vicinity of the Jordanian capital, Amman. 
 
The extent of cooperation proposed in the document would represent a major US shift after years of rivalry between Washington and Moscow, which support opposing sides in Syria&#39;s five-year civil war, but the idea has raised doubts among US defense and intelligence officials. 
 
Putin said at the start of his meeting with Kerry that his last conversation with US President Barack Obama had convinced him that both sides were sincere in their efforts to find a solution in Syria. 
 
&quot;I hope after today&#39;s consultations you&#39;ll be able to advise him of the progress made and possible headway for us to make,&quot; he told Kerry. 
 
A test of Russia 
 
US officials described the visit as a test of Moscow&#39;s willingness to use its influence on the Syrian government to help revive the country&#39;s peace process. 
 
Under the leaked plan, the US and Russia would establish separate headquarters and a shared coordination office, where they would deploy senior officials, intelligence personnel and experts in strike planning and targeting. 
 
They would decide on a date to simultaneously begin strikes against Al-Nusra Front targets and to stop all Syrian military air activities in designated areas, except for non-combat purposes and against areas where Nusra Front has acquired territory. 
 
The proposal also allows for Russia to use air power to defend Syrian forces from attack from AL-Nusra Front within a designated area, if agreed in advance with the United States. 
 
Washington sceptical 
 
The White House and Pentagon offered lukewarm support for the plan and demanded that Moscow show it was serious about fighting Islamic State, not just propping up President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry himself took a tough line after his meeting on Thursday with Putin, state department spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Moscow. 
 
&quot;Secretary Kerry emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely,&quot; Kirby said. 
 
A senior US official said before the talks that expectations were &quot;very low&quot;, but added: &quot;Either we find a way to do something about it or not. 
 
&quot;And if we don&rsquo;t, the entire thing breaks down. That would be an end of the cessation of hostilities and that would not be a good thing for Russia, or the United States, or the world, or, most importantly, for the Syrian people.&quot; 
 
Kerry faces some strong opposition to his efforts to woo Russia from US defense and intelligence officials who say Washington and Moscow have diametrically opposed objectives in Syria. 
 
(Reuters)

US secretary of state seeks concrete, near-term steps from Moscow

US secretary of state John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin about boosting military and intelligence cooperation against Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria and told him that without "concrete, near-term steps", diplomatic efforts to end the war could not go on indefinitely. Kerry met Putin for three hours at the Kremlin and their talks lasted until 1am local time on Friday. The state department said Kerry expressed concern about repeated violations of a cessation of hostilities by the Moscow-backed Syrian government. It said the two also discussed the need to increase pressure on groups like Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. Kerry "emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely", a statement said, adding that discussions between Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday were expected to explore initiatives in more detail. On Thursday, the Washington Post published a leaked document it said Kerry would put forward in Moscow calling for intelligence sharing to identify leadership targets, training camps, supply lines and headquarters of the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. It said strikes against those targets could be carried out by US or Russian jets and expanded coordination would be channelled through a Joint Implementation Group based in the vicinity of the Jordanian capital, Amman. The extent of cooperation proposed in the document would represent a major US shift after years of rivalry between Washington and Moscow, which support opposing sides in Syria's five-year civil war, but the idea has raised doubts among US defense and intelligence officials. Putin said at the start of his meeting with Kerry that his last conversation with US President Barack Obama had convinced him that both sides were sincere in their efforts to find a solution in Syria. "I hope after today's consultations you'll be able to advise him of the progress made and possible headway for us to make," he told Kerry. A test of Russia US officials described the visit as a test of Moscow's willingness to use its influence on the Syrian government to help revive the country's peace process. Under the leaked plan, the US and Russia would establish separate headquarters and a shared coordination office, where they would deploy senior officials, intelligence personnel and experts in strike planning and targeting. They would decide on a date to simultaneously begin strikes against Al-Nusra Front targets and to stop all Syrian military air activities in designated areas, except for non-combat purposes and against areas where Nusra Front has acquired territory. The proposal also allows for Russia to use air power to defend Syrian forces from attack from AL-Nusra Front within a designated area, if agreed in advance with the United States. Washington sceptical The White House and Pentagon offered lukewarm support for the plan and demanded that Moscow show it was serious about fighting Islamic State, not just propping up President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry himself took a tough line after his meeting on Thursday with Putin, state department spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Moscow. "Secretary Kerry emphasized that absent concrete, near-term steps, diplomatic efforts could not continue indefinitely," Kirby said. A senior US official said before the talks that expectations were "very low", but added: "Either we find a way to do something about it or not. "And if we don’t, the entire thing breaks down. That would be an end of the cessation of hostilities and that would not be a good thing for Russia, or the United States, or the world, or, most importantly, for the Syrian people." Kerry faces some strong opposition to his efforts to woo Russia from US defense and intelligence officials who say Washington and Moscow have diametrically opposed objectives in Syria. (Reuters)

Kerry meets Putin about cooperating against Islamic State in Syria

The United States is to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against the Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State extremist groups in Syria, the Washington Post reported today. 
 
US secretary of state John Kerry, who was on his way to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. 
 
According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the jihadist groups. 
 
Currently, Russian forces in Syria are operating in support of President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime against a variety of rebel factions while a US-led coalition focuses its fire on the Islamic State group. 
 
Any deal between the great power rivals would be controversial, since for many - including critics of US President Barack Obama in Washington - it would amount to a tacit acceptance of Putin&#39;s efforts to shore up Assad&#39;s regime. 
 
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report before Moscow had received Washington&#39;s proposal. 
 
He said the Kremlin has reiterated the need for &quot;the coordination of joint efforts&quot; in the fight against jihadist groups in Syria and regretted Washington&#39;s reluctance to cooperate with Russia militarily in the war-torn country. 
 
Kerry was due in Moscow later today and was to hold talks first with Putin at the Kremlin followed by a meeting with his opposite number foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. 
 
Asked if he wanted to comment on the reported US offer of a military pact, Kerry said: &quot;I don&#39;t right now. I&#39;ll have comments. I&#39;m going to Moscow, meeting with President Putin tonight, and we&#39;ll have plenty of time to talk about it.&quot; 
 
&quot;I&#39;ll give you all a sense of where we are,&quot; he added. 
 
According to the Post, Kerry was to propose to Putin that Russia and the United States set up a &#39;Joint Implementation Group&#39; or JIG to &quot;enable extended coordination&quot; between their militaries on the Syrian battlefields. 
 
Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front are defined as terrorist groups by the UN security council, and they are not party to the much-breached ceasefire in place between Assad&#39;s forces and more moderate rebel groups. 
 
But, while the Islamic State&#39;s so-called &#39;caliphate&#39; has global ambitions, al-Nusra which is an affiliate of al-Qaeda has concentrated on battling Assad, fighting alongside other rebel groups backed by US allies. 
 
Any deal between Russia and the United States to fight both groups would in effect strengthen Assad&#39;s position, and could undermine US efforts to press him to agree a negotiated political settlement to the civil war. 
 
( AFP)

John Kerry did not deny nor discuss the report. But critics say it would amount to acceptance of Putin's efforts to shore up Assad's regime

The United States is to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against the Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State extremist groups in Syria, the Washington Post reported today. US secretary of state John Kerry, who was on his way to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the jihadist groups. Currently, Russian forces in Syria are operating in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime against a variety of rebel factions while a US-led coalition focuses its fire on the Islamic State group. Any deal between the great power rivals would be controversial, since for many - including critics of US President Barack Obama in Washington - it would amount to a tacit acceptance of Putin's efforts to shore up Assad's regime. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report before Moscow had received Washington's proposal. He said the Kremlin has reiterated the need for "the coordination of joint efforts" in the fight against jihadist groups in Syria and regretted Washington's reluctance to cooperate with Russia militarily in the war-torn country. Kerry was due in Moscow later today and was to hold talks first with Putin at the Kremlin followed by a meeting with his opposite number foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. Asked if he wanted to comment on the reported US offer of a military pact, Kerry said: "I don't right now. I'll have comments. I'm going to Moscow, meeting with President Putin tonight, and we'll have plenty of time to talk about it." "I'll give you all a sense of where we are," he added. According to the Post, Kerry was to propose to Putin that Russia and the United States set up a 'Joint Implementation Group' or JIG to "enable extended coordination" between their militaries on the Syrian battlefields. Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front are defined as terrorist groups by the UN security council, and they are not party to the much-breached ceasefire in place between Assad's forces and more moderate rebel groups. But, while the Islamic State's so-called 'caliphate' has global ambitions, al-Nusra which is an affiliate of al-Qaeda has concentrated on battling Assad, fighting alongside other rebel groups backed by US allies. Any deal between Russia and the United States to fight both groups would in effect strengthen Assad's position, and could undermine US efforts to press him to agree a negotiated political settlement to the civil war. ( AFP)

US to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint action on IS, Al-Nusra in Syria: Post

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said today he has never faced pressure from Russia to step aside, as US secretary of state John Kerry headed to Moscow seeking to revive stalled peace efforts. 
 
Speaking to NBC News in Damascus, Assad insisted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had never raised the issue of his departure or a political transition. 
 
&quot;Only the Syrian people define who&#39;s going to be the President, when to come, and when to go. They never said a single word regarding this,&quot; he said. 
 
Assad&#39;s fate is a key question in efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to Syria&#39;s five-year civil war.&nbsp; 
 
Hopes for the existing peace process rest on the UN-backed blueprint sketched out by the 22-nation, US and Russian-led International Syria Support Group. 
 
Under this road map, signed by both Syria&#39;s ally Iran and Assad&#39;s pro-rebel foe Saudi Arabia, a nationwide ceasefire will precede Geneva-based talks on &quot;political transition&quot;. 
 
But there has been little progress towards a resumption of talks that had been expected to take place this month. 
 
And the prospects for a political transition beginning August, as laid out in the road map, now appear slim. 
 
Kerry was due to arrive later today in Moscow, a close ally of Assad&#39;s government that launched air strikes in support of regime forces last September. 
 
Kerry said before leaving Washington that he would meet Putin &quot;to see if we can somehow advance this (the peace process) in the important ways that people want us to&quot;. Moscow and Washington brokered a landmark partial ceasefire in Syria in February but it has since all but collapsed amid continued heavy fighting. 
 
Kerry&#39;s spokesman John Kirby told reporters his boss was &quot;extremely frustrated&quot; with the failure of peace efforts and &quot;his patience was growing thin&quot;. 
 
In Washington, many observers have criticised Kerry&#39;s outreach to Russia on Syria, arguing he has been strung along by Putin as he seeks to protect his client Assad. 
 
But Kirby insisted the administration is not being naive, and that today&#39;s visit to Moscow, Kerry&#39;s third this year, would &quot;probe the sincerity&quot; of Putin&#39;s promises. 
 
Syria&#39;s conflict began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and has evolved into a complex multi-front war that has left more than 280,000 dead and forced millions from their homes. 
 
Efforts to bring an end to the war have taken on greater urgency since the emergence of the Islamic State group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in mid-2014. 
 
The jihadist group has committed widespread atrocities in areas under its control and organised or inspired a wave of attacks across the Middle East and in Western cities. 
 
A US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes against the jihadists in Syria and Iraq and recent months have seen IS lose significant territory. 
 
The Washington Post reported today that Washington was to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against IS and the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front. 
 
In Paris before heading to Moscow, Kerry did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. 
 
According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the groups. 
 
Such a deal is likely to face criticism that it amounts to a tacit acceptance of Putin&#39;s efforts to shore up Assad&#39;s regime.&nbsp; 
 
It was her own fault 
In his interview with NBC, Assad also said a US reporter killed in alleged Syrian government bombardment in 2012 was responsible for her own death. 
 
Marie Colvin, a 56-year-old war correspondent working for British newspaper The Sunday Times, died in the rebel-held Baba Amr district of Syria&#39;s third city Homs. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a war and she came illegally to Syria. She worked with the terrorists, and because she came illegally, she&#39;s been responsible of everything that befall on her,&quot; Assad said, speaking in English. 
 
Asked if she was responsible for her own death, Assad replied &quot;of course&quot;, though he denied that his forces had targeted her. 
 
His comments came days after relatives of Colvin filed a lawsuit in a US court alleging Assad&#39;s regime targeted her to stop her covering government atrocities. 
 
The suit, based on information from captured government documents as well as defectors, claims the Syrian military intercepted Colvin&#39;s communications and unleashed a barrage of rocket fire on her location, killing her and French photographer Remi Ochlik. 
 
(AFP)

'Only the Syrian people define who's going to be the President, when to come, and when to go,' he said

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said today he has never faced pressure from Russia to step aside, as US secretary of state John Kerry headed to Moscow seeking to revive stalled peace efforts. Speaking to NBC News in Damascus, Assad insisted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had never raised the issue of his departure or a political transition. "Only the Syrian people define who's going to be the President, when to come, and when to go. They never said a single word regarding this," he said. Assad's fate is a key question in efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to Syria's five-year civil war. Hopes for the existing peace process rest on the UN-backed blueprint sketched out by the 22-nation, US and Russian-led International Syria Support Group. Under this road map, signed by both Syria's ally Iran and Assad's pro-rebel foe Saudi Arabia, a nationwide ceasefire will precede Geneva-based talks on "political transition". But there has been little progress towards a resumption of talks that had been expected to take place this month. And the prospects for a political transition beginning August, as laid out in the road map, now appear slim. Kerry was due to arrive later today in Moscow, a close ally of Assad's government that launched air strikes in support of regime forces last September. Kerry said before leaving Washington that he would meet Putin "to see if we can somehow advance this (the peace process) in the important ways that people want us to". Moscow and Washington brokered a landmark partial ceasefire in Syria in February but it has since all but collapsed amid continued heavy fighting. Kerry's spokesman John Kirby told reporters his boss was "extremely frustrated" with the failure of peace efforts and "his patience was growing thin". In Washington, many observers have criticised Kerry's outreach to Russia on Syria, arguing he has been strung along by Putin as he seeks to protect his client Assad. But Kirby insisted the administration is not being naive, and that today's visit to Moscow, Kerry's third this year, would "probe the sincerity" of Putin's promises. Syria's conflict began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and has evolved into a complex multi-front war that has left more than 280,000 dead and forced millions from their homes. Efforts to bring an end to the war have taken on greater urgency since the emergence of the Islamic State group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in mid-2014. The jihadist group has committed widespread atrocities in areas under its control and organised or inspired a wave of attacks across the Middle East and in Western cities. A US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes against the jihadists in Syria and Iraq and recent months have seen IS lose significant territory. The Washington Post reported today that Washington was to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against IS and the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front. In Paris before heading to Moscow, Kerry did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the groups. Such a deal is likely to face criticism that it amounts to a tacit acceptance of Putin's efforts to shore up Assad's regime. It was her own fault In his interview with NBC, Assad also said a US reporter killed in alleged Syrian government bombardment in 2012 was responsible for her own death. Marie Colvin, a 56-year-old war correspondent working for British newspaper The Sunday Times, died in the rebel-held Baba Amr district of Syria's third city Homs. "It's a war and she came illegally to Syria. She worked with the terrorists, and because she came illegally, she's been responsible of everything that befall on her," Assad said, speaking in English. Asked if she was responsible for her own death, Assad replied "of course", though he denied that his forces had targeted her. His comments came days after relatives of Colvin filed a lawsuit in a US court alleging Assad's regime targeted her to stop her covering government atrocities. The suit, based on information from captured government documents as well as defectors, claims the Syrian military intercepted Colvin's communications and unleashed a barrage of rocket fire on her location, killing her and French photographer Remi Ochlik. (AFP)

Have never faced pressure from Russia to step aside: Assad

The United States will&nbsp;welcome&nbsp;10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year as promised by President Barack Obama, secretary of state John Kerry announced on&nbsp;Tuesday.

Washington has been criticized by some activists for moving too slowly to settle those fleeing the conflict, while Obama&#39;s opponents warn their number may include terrorists.

But Kerry said the United States is now on course to admit 10,000 vulnerable refugees, chosen from UN camps and vetted by US security and intelligence agencies.

&quot;It&#39;s also representing six-fold increase over what we did the year before,&quot; Kerry said, referring to the US fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30.

&quot;I&#39;m proud to say that the United States is by far the largest contributor of emergency aid, but we all recognize that still more needs to be done,&quot; he said.

Kerry made the remarks at a dinner in Washington to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, shortly before he was due to set off on a tour of European capitals.

This journey was to take him Friday to Moscow, where he is set to meet with President Vladimir Putin and lobby Russia to do more to help end Syria&#39;s five-year-old conflict.

Syria is in the grip of what Kerry called the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, and more than 4.8 million people have fled the country.

The United States has traditionally been by far the world&#39;s most generous host for refugees but has been criticized for moving too slowly to respond to the Syrian crisis.

Frontline states like Lebanon and Jordan meanwhile have been all but overwhelmed, and the arrival of streams of unvetted migrants on Europe&#39;s shores provoked a crisis.

Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged Obama plans allow hundreds of thousands of Syrians to come to the United States without security checks.

But the 10,000 who will be allowed in before September 30 were selected in UN camps as vulnerable -- such as widows, the elderly and disabled -- and screened by US officials. 
 
(AFP)

The announcement comes in the wake of the United States being criticised for being too slow in responding to the Syrian refugee crisis

The United States will welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year as promised by President Barack Obama, secretary of state John Kerry announced on Tuesday. Washington has been criticized by some activists for moving too slowly to settle those fleeing the conflict, while Obama's opponents warn their number may include terrorists. But Kerry said the United States is now on course to admit 10,000 vulnerable refugees, chosen from UN camps and vetted by US security and intelligence agencies. "It's also representing six-fold increase over what we did the year before," Kerry said, referring to the US fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. "I'm proud to say that the United States is by far the largest contributor of emergency aid, but we all recognize that still more needs to be done," he said. Kerry made the remarks at a dinner in Washington to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, shortly before he was due to set off on a tour of European capitals. This journey was to take him Friday to Moscow, where he is set to meet with President Vladimir Putin and lobby Russia to do more to help end Syria's five-year-old conflict. Syria is in the grip of what Kerry called the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, and more than 4.8 million people have fled the country. The United States has traditionally been by far the world's most generous host for refugees but has been criticized for moving too slowly to respond to the Syrian crisis. Frontline states like Lebanon and Jordan meanwhile have been all but overwhelmed, and the arrival of streams of unvetted migrants on Europe's shores provoked a crisis. Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged Obama plans allow hundreds of thousands of Syrians to come to the United States without security checks. But the 10,000 who will be allowed in before September 30 were selected in UN camps as vulnerable -- such as widows, the elderly and disabled -- and screened by US officials. (AFP)

US will welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees: John Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Georgia today where he will sign agreements to deepen defence and security cooperation with the former Soviet state days before an important NATO summit. 
 
It is Kerry&#39;s first visit as Secretary of State to Georgia and comes ahead of a NATO summit in Warsaw scheduled on Friday where members of the Western military alliance plan to announce action to deter what they say is an increased Russian military threat. 
 
Georgia and former Soviet states like Moldova and Ukraine have become increasingly concerned by Russia&#39;s intentions after the Kremlin annexed Ukraine&#39;s Crimea in 2014 and launched air strikes in Syria last year. 
 
A senior State Department official said Kerry would sign a memorandum of understanding on security and defence that would promise to bolster Georgia&#39;s ability to defend itself. 
 
Georgia, which is criss-crossed by strategically-important oil and gas pipelines, fought and lost a short war with Russia in 2008. 
 
Until now, US security support has focused on training Georgian troops for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. 
 
&#39;Georgia visit not aimed to send message to Russia&#39; 
 
The State Department official denied Kerry&#39;s Georgia visit and another trip to Ukraine on Thursday were aimed at sending a message to Russia. 
 
&quot;These are important partners of the alliance, partners whose security means a lot to the United States,&quot; the official told reporters travelling with Kerry. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a chance to highlight the fact that we are close partners and their security interests and their aspirations to get closer to the EU and NATO also matter to us. 
 
&quot;Russia can take whatever message it would like,&quot; the official said, saying the visits were a show of support to reassure. 
 
Moscow has accused the West, notably Washington, of stirring anti-Russian feelings among former Soviet states which it deems part of its own sphere of influence. 
 
Kerry&#39;s visit follows Britain&#39;s decision to leave the EU, a move that stoked fears among former Soviet republics who want to join the bloc but now fret it will turn inward. 
 
During his one-day visit, Kerry will meet Georgian officials, including President Georgy Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili. He will also meet the opposition and stress the importance of holding free elections in October. 
 
Kerry then visits Ukraine on Thursday before heading to Warsaw to join US President Barack Obama for the NATO summit. 
 
In Ukraine, Kerry&#39;s third visit there since Russia annexed Crimea, he will focus on the implementation of the Minsk peace accords and the country&#39;s reform agenda. It will be Kerry&#39;s first chance to meet new Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. 
 
(Reuters)

This is Kerry's first visit as Secretary of State to Georgia and comes ahead of a NATO summit in Warsaw

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Georgia today where he will sign agreements to deepen defence and security cooperation with the former Soviet state days before an important NATO summit. It is Kerry's first visit as Secretary of State to Georgia and comes ahead of a NATO summit in Warsaw scheduled on Friday where members of the Western military alliance plan to announce action to deter what they say is an increased Russian military threat. Georgia and former Soviet states like Moldova and Ukraine have become increasingly concerned by Russia's intentions after the Kremlin annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and launched air strikes in Syria last year. A senior State Department official said Kerry would sign a memorandum of understanding on security and defence that would promise to bolster Georgia's ability to defend itself. Georgia, which is criss-crossed by strategically-important oil and gas pipelines, fought and lost a short war with Russia in 2008. Until now, US security support has focused on training Georgian troops for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. 'Georgia visit not aimed to send message to Russia' The State Department official denied Kerry's Georgia visit and another trip to Ukraine on Thursday were aimed at sending a message to Russia. "These are important partners of the alliance, partners whose security means a lot to the United States," the official told reporters travelling with Kerry. "It's a chance to highlight the fact that we are close partners and their security interests and their aspirations to get closer to the EU and NATO also matter to us. "Russia can take whatever message it would like," the official said, saying the visits were a show of support to reassure. Moscow has accused the West, notably Washington, of stirring anti-Russian feelings among former Soviet states which it deems part of its own sphere of influence. Kerry's visit follows Britain's decision to leave the EU, a move that stoked fears among former Soviet republics who want to join the bloc but now fret it will turn inward. During his one-day visit, Kerry will meet Georgian officials, including President Georgy Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili. He will also meet the opposition and stress the importance of holding free elections in October. Kerry then visits Ukraine on Thursday before heading to Warsaw to join US President Barack Obama for the NATO summit. In Ukraine, Kerry's third visit there since Russia annexed Crimea, he will focus on the implementation of the Minsk peace accords and the country's reform agenda. It will be Kerry's first chance to meet new Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. (Reuters)

John Kerry flies into ex-Soviet Georgia to deepen security  cooperation

US secretary of state John Kerry said on Tuesday that Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union may never be implemented and that London is in no hurry to go. 
 
Speaking one day after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, Kerry said the outgoing British leader feels &quot;powerless&quot; to negotiate a departure he does not want. 
 
&quot;This is a very complicated divorce,&quot; Kerry told the Aspen Ideas Festival, referring to Britain&#39;s negotiated exit from the EU after last week&#39;s &quot;Brexit&quot; referendum. 
 
Kerry, who visited Downing Street on Monday, said Cameron was loathe to invoke &quot;Article 50&quot; of the Lisbon treaty, which would trigger a two-year timetable for departure. 
 
London, Kerry explained, does not want to find itself boxed in after two years without a new association agreement and to be forced out of the EU without one. 
 
And, he added, Cameron &quot;feels powerless - and I think this is a fair conclusion - to go out and start negotiating a thing that he doesn&#39;t believe in and he has no idea how he would do it. 
 
&quot;And by the way, nor do most of the people who voted to do it,&quot; Kerry said, apparently referring to &quot;Leave&quot; campaigners such as former London mayor Boris Johnson, now the front-runner to replace Cameron as premier. 
 
Asked by the panel moderator if this meant the Brexit decision could be &quot;walked back&quot; and if so how, Kerry said: &quot;I think there are a number of ways.&quot; 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t as secretary of state want to throw them out today. I think that would be a mistake. But there are a number of ways,&quot; he said. 
 
Washington has long supported a strong role for its British ally in the European project, and was dismayed when British voters chose last week to quit the Union. 
 
Now, US officials are calling for a calm debate on Brexit leading to a deal that would allow a close association between London and Brussels to continue. 
 
Some EU leaders, however, insist that Cameron must move quickly to invoke Article 50 and begin divorce talks, to put an end to political and economic uncertainty. 
 
(AFP)

Kerry said there are a number of ways in which the Brexit decision could be walked back

US secretary of state John Kerry said on Tuesday that Britain's vote to leave the European Union may never be implemented and that London is in no hurry to go. Speaking one day after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron, Kerry said the outgoing British leader feels "powerless" to negotiate a departure he does not want. "This is a very complicated divorce," Kerry told the Aspen Ideas Festival, referring to Britain's negotiated exit from the EU after last week's "Brexit" referendum. Kerry, who visited Downing Street on Monday, said Cameron was loathe to invoke "Article 50" of the Lisbon treaty, which would trigger a two-year timetable for departure. London, Kerry explained, does not want to find itself boxed in after two years without a new association agreement and to be forced out of the EU without one. And, he added, Cameron "feels powerless - and I think this is a fair conclusion - to go out and start negotiating a thing that he doesn't believe in and he has no idea how he would do it. "And by the way, nor do most of the people who voted to do it," Kerry said, apparently referring to "Leave" campaigners such as former London mayor Boris Johnson, now the front-runner to replace Cameron as premier. Asked by the panel moderator if this meant the Brexit decision could be "walked back" and if so how, Kerry said: "I think there are a number of ways." "I don't as secretary of state want to throw them out today. I think that would be a mistake. But there are a number of ways," he said. Washington has long supported a strong role for its British ally in the European project, and was dismayed when British voters chose last week to quit the Union. Now, US officials are calling for a calm debate on Brexit leading to a deal that would allow a close association between London and Brussels to continue. Some EU leaders, however, insist that Cameron must move quickly to invoke Article 50 and begin divorce talks, to put an end to political and economic uncertainty. (AFP)

Brexit may not happen, London in no hurry to leave, says US state secretary John Kerry

Top US diplomat John Kerry will fly to Brussels and London on Monday for talks with Washington&#39;s key allies in the aftermath of Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union. 
 
US officials travelling to Rome with the secretary of state told reporters on the flight that two stops had been added to his European itinerary at the last moment. 
 
&quot;Tomorrow we&#39;ll go to Brussels and then on to London,&quot; one official said. 
 
Washington was dismayed last week when British voters chose to leave the European Union, a decision that triggered global economic uncertainty and fears other EU members will follow suit. 
 
President Barack Obama had made clear his concern about the Brexit referendum, and now US officials are scrambling to try to stop the political crisis harming Western unity. 
 
Kerry arrived in Rome today on a planned visit to have lunch with Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and a working dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 
 
But officials on his flight said that on Monday he would fly on to the EU headquarters in Brussels for crisis talks with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. 
 
Mogherini had been expected to meet Kerry in Rome today, but she was busy dealing with the fallout of the dramatic vote, which stunned European and world leaders. 
 
From Brussels Kerry will continue to London to see Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and other officials from outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron`s government. 
 
The two senior diplomats are expected to hold a joint news conference before Kerry leaves to return to Washington. 
 
Obama and Kerry have been at pains to insist the vaunted &quot;special relationship&quot; between Washington and London will survive what US officials view as the Brexit debacle.But Washington foreign policy experts are all but unanimous in assessing that the White House will increasingly turn to core EU allies to defend its interests on the continent. 
 
Obama himself, on a visit to London last month, warned British voters that their nation would go &quot;to the back of the queue&quot; for a US trade deal if they voted &quot;out.&quot; 
 
US officials are also keen to help London`s divorce from Brussels go through smoothly without further inflicting further damage on skittish world financial markets. 
 
But they, like many EU capitals, are also concerned not to allow Brexit to serve as an inspiration for eurosceptic forces in other members such as Italy or The Netherlands. 
 
The London visit will be the first by a senior US official since Thursday`s dramatic referendum, when voters demanded Britain leave the world`s richest trading bloc.&nbsp; 
 
Kerry&#39;s trip had originally been planned as an opportunity to meet Netanyahu and discuss regional security and the stalled Israel-Palestinian peace process. 
 
But US officials played down the chance of any concrete progress, insisting that the pair meet regularly and that no new initiative would be on the table.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

London visit will be the first by John Kerry after the referendum when voters demanded Britain leave the world's richest trading bloc

Top US diplomat John Kerry will fly to Brussels and London on Monday for talks with Washington's key allies in the aftermath of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. US officials travelling to Rome with the secretary of state told reporters on the flight that two stops had been added to his European itinerary at the last moment. "Tomorrow we'll go to Brussels and then on to London," one official said. Washington was dismayed last week when British voters chose to leave the European Union, a decision that triggered global economic uncertainty and fears other EU members will follow suit. President Barack Obama had made clear his concern about the Brexit referendum, and now US officials are scrambling to try to stop the political crisis harming Western unity. Kerry arrived in Rome today on a planned visit to have lunch with Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and a working dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But officials on his flight said that on Monday he would fly on to the EU headquarters in Brussels for crisis talks with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. Mogherini had been expected to meet Kerry in Rome today, but she was busy dealing with the fallout of the dramatic vote, which stunned European and world leaders. From Brussels Kerry will continue to London to see Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and other officials from outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron`s government. The two senior diplomats are expected to hold a joint news conference before Kerry leaves to return to Washington. Obama and Kerry have been at pains to insist the vaunted "special relationship" between Washington and London will survive what US officials view as the Brexit debacle.But Washington foreign policy experts are all but unanimous in assessing that the White House will increasingly turn to core EU allies to defend its interests on the continent. Obama himself, on a visit to London last month, warned British voters that their nation would go "to the back of the queue" for a US trade deal if they voted "out." US officials are also keen to help London`s divorce from Brussels go through smoothly without further inflicting further damage on skittish world financial markets. But they, like many EU capitals, are also concerned not to allow Brexit to serve as an inspiration for eurosceptic forces in other members such as Italy or The Netherlands. The London visit will be the first by a senior US official since Thursday`s dramatic referendum, when voters demanded Britain leave the world`s richest trading bloc. Kerry's trip had originally been planned as an opportunity to meet Netanyahu and discuss regional security and the stalled Israel-Palestinian peace process. But US officials played down the chance of any concrete progress, insisting that the pair meet regularly and that no new initiative would be on the table. (AFP)

Top US envoy Kerry heads to Britain amid Brexit crisis

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