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ANKARA, Dec. 25-- Russia and Turkey are facing tensions on their warming relations over differences on Syria and Libya, where the two countries have clashing interests but could choose to cooperate for mutual interests, experts said. Turkey has sent a delegation to Moscow to seek a reprieve after Russian-backed Syrian government forces stepped up an offensive on the country's last major rebel bastion in northwestern Idlib province, threatening a new refugee wave toward the Turkish border. Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said Tuesday evening that Ankara asked Russia to establish a cease-fire in Idlib after the region has seen an uptick of violence in recent days. "They told our delegation that they will make an effort to stop the regime's attacks within 24 hours," he told reporters. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that the attacks are causing an exodus toward NATO member Turkey, which is already hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees in the world with 3.6 million. "More than 80,000 people are fleeing the bombardment there and heading toward our borders," said the Turkish leader on Sunday, refusing categorically to accept more refugees, while he is under heavy domestic pressure for his refugee policy. The offensive also threatens a cease-fire monitored between Russia, Turkey and Iran in this region. Turkey has deployed several hundreds of troops within this mission in Idlib. | 
