Russia tells Lebanon it will conduct navy exercise - agency

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Source: Reuters

BEIRUT, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Russia has told Lebanese authorities it wants to conduct a three-day naval exercise which could affect civilian flights in Lebanese airspace, Lebanon's National News Agency said on Friday.

Russia has said it wants the manoeuvres to start at midnight local time and to last three days, the NNA said, citing a telegram from the Russian navy.

A Russian defence ministry official in Moscow declined any immediate comment. Russia has been carrying out air strikes against rebels opposed to its ally President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Lebanon's neighbour, for nearly two months.

Read more: http://www.trust.org/item/20151120162736-730jp

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1. Lebanon turns down Russian navy request to divert flights - minister

Lebanon turns down Russian navy request to divert flights - minister

BEIRUT, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Lebanon has turned down a Russian request to divert civilian flights in some areas so that Moscow could conduct a naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, the Lebanese transport minister said on Friday.

"The Russians have asked the Directorate of Civil Aviation authority in Lebanon to divert the routes of planes in a specific area over the international waters where they are planning to conduct the exercise," Ghazi Zeaiter said.

"This (disruption would have been) for three days but we refused because it is against our interests," he added.

Flight paths from Lebanon are limited because the national carrier does not fly over Israel and other airlines have also avoided flying over neighbouring Syria, where Russia and others are conducting air strikes against rebel groups.

http://www.trust.org/item/20151120164740-tsso3