Putin holds phone call with Syria's Sharaa

MOSCOW, Feb 13 (Reuters/AFP): Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, the first direct communication between the two since Sharaa's forces overthrew Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad in December.

Russia is hoping to retain the use of naval and air bases in Syria under the leadership that took power after Assad fled to Moscow following 13 years of civil war in which Russian troops had intervened on his behalf.

The Kremlin described the phone call as constructive and said Putin had emphasized Moscow's support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state.

Meanwhile, the UK plans to ease sanctions on Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, under a new plan announced by the government on Thursday.

Still weighed down by heavy international sanctions, the new Syrian government is aiming to persuade Western capitals that the jihadist origins of the rebels that toppled Assad, after 14 years in charge, are confined to the past.

"They will include the relaxation of restrictions that apply to the energy, transport and finance sectors," said Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, adding that MPs would first have to debate the proposals.

In a written statement to parliament, Doughty said the government will "bring forward measures in the coming months", including amendments to the 2019 legislation that underpins the sanctions.