Putin, on visit, orders Russian forces to start pulling out of Syria - agencies
MOSCOW, Dec 11 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered Russian forces in Syria to start withdrawing and held surprise talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on a visit to Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Russian news agencies reported. (Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh; Writing by Polina Nikolskaya; Editing by Andrew Osborn)