By Peter Spinella

Moscow (dpa) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered his defence minister to begin pulling out the majority of Russian troops in Syria.

"The task presented to the Defence Ministry and the armed forces has been completely fulfilled," Putin told Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"Thus I order the defence minister to begin withdrawing the majority of our troops from the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin said in comments carried by state news agency TASS.

Putin said he hoped the withdrawal of Russian troops will be a stimulus for a political resolution of the conflict.