Jumblat Meets ex-SNC Chief in Moscow

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat held talks in the Russian capital Moscow with former Syrian National Coalition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Saturday, the meeting between Jumblat and Khatib was held at the headquarters of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

It was reportedly attended by prominent Russian officials.

In March 2013, Khatib announced his resignation from the National Coalition, throwing Syria's divided opposition into disarray.

Jumblat traveled to Moscow at the head of a delegation on Wednesday evening and will reportedly return on Saturday.

The delegation is comprised of Jumblat's son Taymor, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour and a number of officials.

The Druze leader held talks on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in presence of Russia's Deputy FM Mikhail Bogdanov Aleksey Pushkov and had met with head of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian Duma.

Moscow has been playing a key role in the Middle East in recent years, especially through its vital support for the embattled Syrian regime, which is opposed by Jumblat.

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