Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses participants of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, June 21, 2013. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Russia is concerned that if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were to leave power immediately, it would trigger a leadership scramble and militants could seize control, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
"We are concerned about the possible appearance of a political vacuum in Syria if some decisions about a change of government in Syria are taken now," Putin told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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