UPDATE 1-Russia says Kurds have begun withdrawing forces near Syria-Turkey border - Ifax

Kurdish forces have begun withdrawing from areas near the Turkish border in Syria, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin as saying on Thursday.

Moscow, a close Syrian ally, told Syrian Kurdish forces to withdraw from the border on Wednesday as part of an agreement struck between Moscow and Ankara that will see Syrian and Russian forces deployed to northeast Syria. "We note with satisfaction that the agreements reached in (the southern Russian city of) Sochi are being implemented," Vershinin was quoted as saying.

"Everything is being implemented," he said. Earlier RIA news agency, citing a defense ministry source, reported that Russia would send a further 276 military policemen and 33 units of military hardware to Syria in a week.

Moscow has already deployed some military police to the Turkey-Syria border area under Tuesday's agreement reached between presidents Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan.

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