Saudi minister sees Russian activity in Syria as interference in inter

The Syrian presidency confirmed that Assad and Putin held three meetings in which Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu were present. Officials said the two senior officials were trying to find common ground between Washington and Moscow in their discussions about Syria's political future.

Kerry spoke alongside German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said that finding a road to a political solution "depends on whether Washington and Moscow find bridges to each other".

"This is a multilateral, collegiate effort, and there are no self-appointed leaders".

"We think that it is necessary to dramatically increase efforts to launch a political process" based on a three-year-old proposal reached in Geneva that hasn't taken shape, Lavrov said. "We look forward to expanding to countries that have a great deal of concern about this".

The announcements come just ahead of Kerry’s trip to Jordan for consultations with Jordanian officials and also Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

"I hope with Russian pilots' help, our military will advance and defeat terrorists so that we could return to our homes", said?hmad Attan who served in the Syrian military and was wounded in fighting.

Secretary of State John Kerry says the USA, Iran, Russian Federation and Europe agree Syria should be united and that Syrians should choose their own future leadership.

Al-Assad is a magnet attracting militants from all over the world to fight the regime on the side of the opposition, al-Jubayr said after his meeting with the Austrian foreign minister.

Russia's actions in Syria are "very risky", according to Saudi Arabia, which has demanded an unconditional exit by President Bashar Assad as a necessary step in ending the Syrian Civil War that has raged since 2011.

Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey call for a transition process in Syria with the removal of Assad from power. He said Moscow is eager to invite other countries from the region to the talks, especially Iran. "Neither our American or European colleagues are helping us" in identifying moderate forces to work with.

"I asked him: "What view would you take if we found, now in Syria, an armed opposition which nonetheless was ready to oppose and really fight against terrorists, against Islamic State?" With the enhanced insurgent firepower and steadily rising Russian airstrikes against the govt's opponents, the Syrian conflict is edging closer to an all out proxy-war between the USA and Russia. Putin pledged to continue to support Damascus militarily, while calling for a political solution involving all groups to try to end the war.

The intervention is also allowing Russian Federation to portray itself as a major global player, projecting its military power far from its borders.

Kerry did not rule out the possibility that Iran, which along with Russian Federation is the primary backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad, might someday participate in negotiations, but he declined to say when that might be.

"The fate of the president of Syria must be decided by the Syrian people", Lavrov told journalists in Vienna, reiterating Moscow's opposition to Assad's removal by any outside forces. "Because no success is possible without an operation on the ground, no matter how many airstrikes are made". He met yesterday in Berlin with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to talk about what Israel could do to show its commitment to the status quo.

He said a few proposals might be put on the table in the coming days that would help stop the unrest.