Russia Says Up To Syrians To Discuss Bashar al-Assad's Fate

Moscow: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today it was up to the Syrian people to discuss the fate of President Bashar al-Assad, commenting on a Syrian opposition statement issued after two days of talks in Riyadh.

The conference in Saudi Arabia of political activists and rebel groups agreed on Thursday to set up a joint body to prepare for proposed peace talks with Assad's government but insisted that he leaves office.

"The fate of Assad should be discussed by Syrians themselves, not Russia," Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

"Now efforts are focused on drawing up the lists of who to recognize as terrorist organisations, who to consider moderate opposition which can and should be part of the political settlement... Disagreements among certain countries exist. Positions are getting closer," he said.