Russia's Lavrov says radical groups engaged in 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria, TASS reports

MOSCOW, May 20 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is deeply concerned by what he said was ethnic cleansing being carried out by "radical militant groups" in Syria, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday.

TASS cited Lavrov as saying of Syria: "Radical militant groups are carrying out real ethnic cleansing, mass killings of people based on their nationality and religion."

Tass gave no details on which groups Lavrov was referring to.

Russia, which maintains two military bases in Syria, was a key backer of the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, who is now in Russia, where he was given asylum.

A March outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria's coastal northwest, which was an Assad stronghold, left hundreds of members of the former leader's Alawite sect dead.

Russia has attempted to maintain ties with Syria's new authorities, who have said that they may yet allow Moscow to retain use of the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base.

U.S. President Donald Trump this month ordered sanctions on Syria imposed during Assad's rule removed, in a major policy shift for Washington.