Controversy Over Russian Strikes US, Turkey, UK Calls For Ceasefire

According to report, in agreement the joint statement produced on Friday reveals that the US, UK, Turkey and other coalition members said Russian strikes would "only fuel more extremism".

Russia, which according to witnesses launched fresh strikes on Friday, says it is targeting IS.

A senior Russian official says strikes could last for three to four months.

Alexei Pushkov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's parliament, added that the US had only "pretended" to bomb IS and promised that Russia's campaign would be much more effective.

The Russian Air Force began air strikes in Syria on Wednesday.

The Syrian military says that Russia carried out a total of 18 air strikes since Thursday evening. It said that several of these were in Hama and Idlib, provinces with little Islamic State presence.

The Russian Defence Ministry said it had attacked the IS stronghold of Raqqa on Thursday. Activists report that at least a dozen IS fighters had been killed there.

Members of the US-led coalition against Islamic State have called on Russia to cease air strikes they say are hitting the Syrian opposition and civilians.