Russia-Turkey talks on Libya and Syria postponed

Russia's foreign and defence ministers had been expected to arrive in Istanbul on Sunday

Vladimir Putin's Russia and Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Turkey are on opposite sides in both Syria and Libya. AP Photo

An expected visit to Turkey by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday has been postponed, with no reason or rescheduled date given.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Mr Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The visit was announced on Saturday by the two countries' foreign ministries, with Syria and Libya expected to feature high on the agenda.

Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled long-time dictator Muammar Qadhafi, who was later killed, while Syria is facing fresh protests in the face of a spiralling economic crisis.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was also due to visit Istanbul for talks with Mr Cavusoglu on Monday before travelling to Moscow, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported.

Turkey, Iran and Russia are behind the Astana process, an effort to end Syria’s nine-year civil war. While Turkey backs militias opposed to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, Russia and Iran have propped up his regime, enabling it to retake most territory apart from Idlib in the northwest.

Russia and Turkey agreed a cease-fire in Idlib in early March that halted the Syrian government’s three-month air and ground campaign. Suspected Russian airstrikes hit villages on the edge of Idlib on Tuesday, activists said, following fighting between insurgents and government forces in the region’s south.