Election data offers clues about Russian troop strength in Syria

By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Data showing how many Russian citizens in Syria took part in a weekend election for a new Russian parliament suggests the Kremlin may have around 4,000 military personnel based there backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian Defence Ministry has declined to divulge the size of its contingent in Syria, which is largely deployed at the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, but also based at a naval facility, in Damascus and in other locations in gove