[An Nahar] Russia's emergencies ministry on Tuesday airlifted 103 Russians and citizens of former Soviet republics from Syria amid continuing violence in the strife-torn country, news reports said.The Il-62 plane left from Latakia airport in western Syria where President Bashar Assad enjoys his strongest support at 1440 GMT, news agencies quoted a ministry spokeswoman as saying.
Russia denies organizing a major evacuation of its nationals and says it is only taking back people who volunteered to leave aboard planes that were sent to provide Syria with various supplies.
A coordinated airlift would be read as a signal of Moscow's admission that Assad's regime was on the brink of collapse.