Russia lashes out at West for refusing take back IS fighters A top Russian diplomat has lashed out at Western countries for refusing to take back foreign-born militants who have been fighting in Syria and Iraq

MOSCOW -- A top Russian diplomat has lashed out at Western countries for refusing to take back foreign-born militants who have been fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a briefing on Friday accused Western nations of trying to "get rid" of their own citizens by refusing to repatriate their nationals who were fighting alongside the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

The issue of foreign-born IS fighters has become acute as the once sprawling territory controlled by the extremists has shrunk to a small enclave and both Syria and Iraq face a post-war future.

Zakharova also said that the detention facilities where foreign-born fighters are held should be handed over to the Syrian government.