SYRIA’S Kurds have accused the US of turning its back on its allies as American troops began pulling back from positions in north-eastern Syria ahead of an expected Turkish assault.
Syrian Kurdish fighters warned that Washington’s abrupt decision to stand aside – announced by the White House late on Sunday – will overturn years of achievements in the battle against militants from Daesh. They accused Washington of failing to abide by its commitments to its key allies.
There was no immediate confirmation from the White House of US troops clearing positions in areas in northern Syria.
However, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured with Donald Trump, right) also said American troops have started pulling back. The Kurdish news agency showed a convoy of American vehicles heading away from the border.
MEANWHILE, France’s interior minister has acknowledged that there was a breach in security that failed to detect signs of radicalisation of a police employee who killed four people inside Paris police headquarters.
READ MORE: Paris police headquarters attack leaves at least four officers dead
Christophe Castaner told France Inter radio the attacker had previously “justified” the deadly 2015 Islamic extremist attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in front of his colleagues, but no written report was made at the time. An internal investigation has been launched, in addition to the judicial investigation.
The longtime police employee stabbed four colleagues to death on Thursday before he was shot and killed. His wife was released from police custody on Sunday.
ELSEWHERE,Ukraine’s foreign minister said a planned pullback of forces in the rebel east has been delayed because of recent skirmishes.
Ukraine and Russia-backed separatist rebels had agreed to pull their forces from the front line in two areas to create a safe buffer zone.
But foreign minister Vadim Pristaiko (left) said the move has been postponed due to recent shelling by separatists.
More than 13,000 people have been killed in the five-year conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed rebels.
FINALLY, a woman known for posting images of herself online trying to look like a lead character from Tim Burton’s film The Corpse Bride has been arrested in Iran, according to a semi-official news agency.
The Tasnim news agency said the woman, whom it identified only by her first name Fatemah, was arrested late on Saturday.
Authorities are looking to charge her with promoting violence, blasphemy and encouraging youth to corruption, it said.
News of her detention spread rapidly among Iranian internet users, where she has a wide following on Instagram.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here