Assad says Syria starts signing oil and gas deals with Russian companies - RIA

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with AFP news agency in Damascus, Syria in this handout picture provided by SANA on April 13, 2017. SANA/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Syrian government has started signing deals with Russian companies in oil and natural gas sector, RIA news agency quoted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as saying on Friday. No other details have been disclosed so far. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin)