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Conflict in Syria facilitates emergence of various terrorist groups — Algerian diplomat

The situation is similar in neighboring Iraq, where Islamic State militants and their supporters threaten the territory, sovereignty, stability and security of the country, the diplomat says

RABAT, October 1. /TASS/. Future developments in Syria depend on efforts in looking for a political settlement with participation of Syrians themselves that will observe sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity in the country, Algeria’s Minister of Maghreb Affairs, African Union and League of Arab States Abdelkader Messahel said on Thursday.

"The fire blazing in the Syrian Arab Republic has opened great opportunities for emergence and spread of various terrorist groups," Messahel said.

"Terrorists seize territories, take under control natural resources, impose taxes on the population, commit brutal barbaric crimes against innocent people and ancient cultural heritage," Algerie Presse Service quoted the diplomat as saying.

"The situation is similar in neighboring Iraq, where Islamic State militants and their supporters threaten the territory, sovereignty, stability and security of the country," the minister continued.

On Wednesday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry published a report noting that "Algeria and Russia insist on urgently searching for political settlement of the Syrian crisis, the consequences of which are enormous for the humanitarian and security spheres."

On Thursday, Russian Federation Council unanimously granted permission to the Russian president to use the nation’s military force in Syria. "The Federation Council unanimously supported the president’s request — 162 votes in favor [of granting permission]," Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov said. Russia will use only its Air Force in Syria IS upon the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Ivanov said, stressing that no ground troops will be sent.

Russian Air Force already delivered airstrikes at eight IS positions in Syria, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said adding that some 20 sorties were made. He stressed that all strikes were made after air reconnaissance and update of data obtained from the Syrian army headquarters. Aircraft armaments were not used to hit civil infrastructure facilities or areas near them.