Putin: US support for rebels is illegal

Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday branded US support for rebel forces in Syria as illegal and ineffective, saying US-trained rebels were leaving to join Islamic State (IS) with weapons supplied by Washington.

In an interview with US networks recorded ahead of a meeting with US president Barack Obama, Putin said Syrian president Bashar al-Assad deserved international support, as he was fighting terrorist organisations.

Obama and Putin are scheduled to talk today after Putin addresses the UN, although White House and Kremlin officials have disagreed on what the two leaders will discuss and even who initiated the meeting.