Celebrating Putin in Damascus

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STORY: Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held a rally in front of the Russian embassy in Damascus on Monday to celebrate Russian President Vladimir Putin's swearing in as president.

Russia, an ally of Assad, vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Syria twice.

It has also received representatives from Syria's opposition in an effort to mediate between them and the Syrian government.

Vladimir Putin took the oath as Russia's president on Monday with a ringing appeal for unity at the start of a six-year term in which he faces growing dissent, economic problems and bitter political rivalries.