Vladimir Putin is like a man who beats his wife, Philip Hammond says

Vladimir Putin does not deserve 'any credit' for withdrawing from Syria, Philip Hammond says as he accuses him of bombing schools and hospitals

Vladimir Putin is like a man who beats his wife, the Foreign Secretary has said as he urged people not to give the Russian leader praise for withdrawing from Syria.

Philip Hammond said that the West should not give Russia "any credit" for withdrawing from Syria, highlighting the fact it has bombed hospitals and schools.

He said in the Commons: "Somebody goes in to another country, starts bombing civilian populations, destroying hospitals and schools.

"If they decide they have done enough, let's not give them too much praise. It's a bit like 'did he stop beating his wife'.

"The fact they are there in the first place is something we have to continually protest about. We certainly should not give them any credit for simply withdrawing from these illegal activities."

It came after Richard Benyon, a Conservative MP and former minister, accused Mr Putin of war crimes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hand with Syria President Bashar Assad in the Kremlin

He said: "It is depressing to calculate the sum total of human misery that has resulted from Russia's intervention in this bloody civil war.

"Can I ask my Rt Hon friend to treat this move with huge caution and hold Russia responsible for any war crimes that they have committed."

Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative MP, suggested that President Assad should "double his bodyguard" given Russia's history of "changing horses at he last moment.

Mr Hammond responded: "The relationship between President Assad and President Putin is a subject of much speculation among colleagues. But I am clear the situation is the same as it has always been.

"President Putin could have ended this years ago by a single phone call to President Assad by offering him some fraternal advice about his future health and wellbeing."

Mr Putin said he believed Russia's mission in Syria had now been "largely fulfilled" and phoned Mr Assad to inform him that his troops were withdrawing.

Russia began bombing late last year with that stated aim of destroying "terrorist" groups inside Syria but in reality it focused its fire on propping up Mr Assad's embattled forces.

The Kremlin said Russia had achieved "a real turnabout in the fight against the terrorists in Syria" even though the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) still controls a third of the country.

Mr Putin said he believed Russia's mission in Syria had now been "largely fulfilled" and phoned Mr Assad to inform him that his troops were withdrawing.