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US 'willing to work with Russia and Iran' on Syria Syria conflict: UN assembly highlights divisions
(about 2 hours later)
President Barack Obama has said the US is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict in Syria. Divisions among world leaders on resolving the war in Syria have been laid bare in speeches at the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
He told the UN General Assembly in New York compromise would be essential for ending the long civil war. The US and France insisted Syria's President Bashar al-Assad must go, but Russia said it would be an "enormous mistake" not to work with him to tackle Islamic State (IS) militants.
But he said realism required a "managed transition" away from Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to an inclusive leader. The US and Russia hinted at compromise.
He and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is a key ally of Syria, are to hold rare talks later. Barack Obama said he would work with any nation, and Vladimir Putin called for a "broad coalition".
The assembly in New York is expected to see intense diplomatic activity on the conflict, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives and forced four million to flee abroad. The pair will meet in New York later.
In his remarks, Mr Obama called President Assad a "tyrant" who dropped barrel bombs on children. In his speech, Mr Obama said compromise among powers would be essential to ending the Syrian conflict, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives and forced four million to flee abroad.
"Lasting stability can only take hold when the people of Syria forge an agreement to live together peacefully," he said."Lasting stability can only take hold when the people of Syria forge an agreement to live together peacefully," he said.
"The US is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict. But we must recognise that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the pre-war status quo.""The US is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict. But we must recognise that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the pre-war status quo."
The summit is due to hear from Mr Putin shortly, as well as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and French President Francois Hollande, whose country has just carried out its first air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. Speaking soon after, Mr Putin said it was an "enormous mistake to refuse to cooperate with the Syrian government and its armed forces who are valiantly fighting terrorism face-to-face".
Putin centre stage, by BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow He also called for the creation of a "broad anti-terror coalition" to fight IS, comparing it to the international forces that fought against Nazi Germany in World War Two.
A famous Russian expression talks about "killing two hares with one shot". But Vladimir Putin doesn't do things by halves: he'll be trying to slay a whole multitude of political and economic hares with one trip to New York. The US and Russian leaders have long differed on Syria: the US opposes President Bashar al-Assad remaining in power, while Russia has been a staunch ally, and has recently stepped up military support.
His UN speech and meeting with President Obama will put President Putin centre stage: a return to the international limelight for a leader shunned by the West over the conflict in Ukraine. Some Western leaders have recently softened their stance towards the Syrian president, conceding that he might be able to stay on during a political transition.
And if he convinces President Obama to put aside their differences and join together in the fight against Islamic State, Russia stands to gain on many levels: by retaining a degree of influence in Syria; by boosting Russian national security (Moscow acknowledges that IS constitutes a threat to Russia); and, crucially, by improving Russia's international image - rebranding her from pariah to partner and refocusing attention from the conflict in Ukraine. UK Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to reflect that in talks this week.
If Vladimir Putin achieves that, it could be the first step towards easing Western sanctions. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, a key Syrian ally, said his country was prepared to help in "paving the way for democracy" in Syria.
First, though, he will need to convince the US to trust him. It may be a hard sell. But French President Francois Hollande said that, while he was prepared to work with Iran and Russia, he would explain to them that "the route to a solution does not go through Bashar al-Assad".
In his speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said five countries - Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran - were key to finding a political solution, but unless they could compromise it would be "futile" to expect change on the ground.
Moscow has suggested there are plans to form an international contact group involving all the countries Mr Ban mentioned plus Egypt.
The threat of IS extremists and the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe has added urgency to the search for a deal to end the civil war.
Western leaders have recently softened their stance towards the Syrian president, conceding that he might be able to stay on during a political transition.
Mr Putin, who has strongly reinforced Russia's military presence in Syria, has called for a regional "co-ordinating structure" against IS, and said the Syrian president's troops were "the only legitimate conventional army there".
He said Russia would not participate in any troop operations in Syria.
President Rouhani - a key regional ally of President Assad - says the government in Damascus "can't be weakened" if IS militants are to be defeated.
Why the UN General Assembly matters
Syria's civil warSyria's civil war
What's the human cost?What's the human cost?
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and one million injured in four and a half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and one million injured in four and a half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.
And the survivors?And the survivors?
More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe.More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes, four million of them abroad, as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS. Growing numbers of refugees are going to Europe.
How has the world reacted?How has the world reacted?
Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France.Regional and world powers have also been drawn into the conflict. Iran and Russia, along with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, are propping up the Alawite-led government. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are backing the Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France.
Syria's civil war explainedSyria's civil war explained
Diplomatic goals behind Putin's Syria build-upDiplomatic goals behind Putin's Syria build-up
Migrant crisis: Fleeing life under Islamic State in SyriaMigrant crisis: Fleeing life under Islamic State in Syria
The battle for Syria and Iraq in mapsThe battle for Syria and Iraq in maps
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to reflect the softening of the Western stance against Mr Assad this week. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said five countries - Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran - were key to finding a political solution in Syria, but unless they could compromise, it would be "futile" to expect change on the ground.
He is set to tell leaders at the gathering in New York that Mr Assad could remain temporarily in power at the head of a transitional government. Moscow has suggested there are plans to form an international contact group involving all the countries Mr Ban mentioned plus Egypt.
In addition to Russia's military build-up in Syria, Iraq on Sunday announced that it had signed an agreement on security and intelligence co-operation with Russia, Iran and Syria to help combat IS. The threat of IS extremists and the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe has added urgency to the search for a deal to end the civil war.
A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq for more than a year.A US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq for more than a year.
The UK announced this month it had carried out a drone strike against two British citizens in Syria, but has yet to fly manned operations in Syrian airspace.The UK announced this month it had carried out a drone strike against two British citizens in Syria, but has yet to fly manned operations in Syrian airspace.