Assad Willing To Partake In Presidential Elections

Russia news agency RIA quoted politician Alexander Yushchenko as saying: "Assad said that if the Syrian people consider it necessary, he would not be against taking part in presidential elections."

At a meeting in Damascus Mr Assad reportedly told Russian politicians he was ready to stage a ballot if the Syrian people supported the idea.

Syria's President Bashar al Assad has told Russia he would be willing to partake in presidential elections.

It comes as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that the Kremlin wanted Syria to prepare for elections.

Interfax news agency cited the same politician as saying Mr Assad also expressed a willingness to discuss amendments to Syria's constitution and hold parliamentary elections.

However, Syrian state media made no mention of Mr Assad's response to the Russian proposal in its initial report on the meeting.

Mr Assad did say that "eliminating terrorist groups will lead to the political solution we aim for in Syria and Russia", according to Syrian TV.

Russia, a key international ally for the Assad regime, began bombing opposition rebels and Islamic State targets in September.