G-8 summit to press Russia on Syria

BERLIN (AP) — Britain and Germany aim to use next week’s summit of major economic powers to press Russia’s leader to use his leverage with the government of President Bashar Assad to calm the fighting in Syria.

Leaders at the G-8 meeting starting Monday will push President Vladimir Putin, “who has a special responsibility and a particular influence to contribute to a de-escalation as (Syria’s) weapons supplier,” a senior German official said Thursday.