Russia to withdraw aircraft carrier from off Syria...

The announcement comes days after Russia and Turkey negotiated a ceasefire in Syria which is largely holding, according to the UN.

Russia has carried out air strikes on anti-government rebels since 2015.

Moscow's involvement is credited with turning the war in favour of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia is to withdraw its only aircraft carrier from Syria on Friday as part of a planned scale-back, military leaders said, despite more Russian military equipment reportedly being sent to Syria overnight.

"In accordance with the decision of the supreme commander of the Russian armed forces Vladimir Putin, the Russian defence ministry is beginning the reduction of the armed deployment to Syria," Russian news agencies quoted military chief Valery Gerasimov as saying.

Gerasimov said that a naval group headed by aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, a Soviet-era ship named after a Second World War navy commander, would be the first to leave the area.

"The tasks set for the aircraft carrier group during its military mission have been fulfilled," added Russia's main commander in Syria Andrei Kartapolov, agencies reported.

Some other warships are also reportedly set to be withdrawn from Syria.

However, the aircraft carrier and the warships in its group have not played a decisive role in the war so far.