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| Syria conflict: France calls on Russia to stop bombing civilians | Syria conflict: France calls on Russia to stop bombing civilians |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has called on Russia to stop hitting civilians in air raids in Syria. | French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has called on Russia to stop hitting civilians in air raids in Syria. |
| Mr Valls said an end to bombing civilians was the key to peace. | Mr Valls said an end to bombing civilians was the key to peace. |
| His Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev said there was "no evidence of our bombing civilians, even though everyone is accusing us of this". | His Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev said there was "no evidence of our bombing civilians, even though everyone is accusing us of this". |
| Late last month, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 1,015 civilians had been killed in Russian air strikes. | Late last month, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 1,015 civilians had been killed in Russian air strikes. |
| How Putin is succeeding in Syria | How Putin is succeeding in Syria |
| Displaced Syrians struggle to survive | |
| Syria: The story of the conflict | |
| Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has consistently denied hitting civilian targets and insists it is battling terrorists. | Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has consistently denied hitting civilian targets and insists it is battling terrorists. |
| Mr Valls said his government "respects Russia and Russia's interests" but "that to re-discover the path to peace, to discussion, the Russian bombing of civilians has to stop". | Mr Valls said his government "respects Russia and Russia's interests" but "that to re-discover the path to peace, to discussion, the Russian bombing of civilians has to stop". |
| Mr Medvedev said Russia was "not trying to achieve some secret goals in Syria", adding that "we are trying to protect our national interests". | Mr Medvedev said Russia was "not trying to achieve some secret goals in Syria", adding that "we are trying to protect our national interests". |
| The comments were made at a security conference in Munich, days after world powers agreed a deal to push for a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week. | The comments were made at a security conference in Munich, days after world powers agreed a deal to push for a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week. |
| Agreement to try to bring about a cessation of hostilities and allow more access for humanitarian aid was reached by world powers late on Thursday in Germany, but neither the Syrian government nor the rebels were involved. | |
| Under the plan, efforts will be made to try to make urgent aid deliveries to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria. Steps will also be taken to work towards an eventual ceasefire and implementation of a UN-backed plan for political transition in Syria. | |
| The halt will not apply to the battle against jihadist groups Islamic State (IS) and al-Nusra Front. | |
| Assad 'deluded' | |
| Rebel groups in Syria have told the BBC they would not stop fighting because they do not believe that Russia will end its bombing campaign in support of the government. | Rebel groups in Syria have told the BBC they would not stop fighting because they do not believe that Russia will end its bombing campaign in support of the government. |
| They also reiterated their demand that President Assad be removed from power. On Friday, the president said he wanted to retake "the whole country" from rebels. | They also reiterated their demand that President Assad be removed from power. On Friday, the president said he wanted to retake "the whole country" from rebels. |
| But US state department spokesman Mark Toner said Mr Assad was "deluded" if he thought there was a military solution to the conflict. | But US state department spokesman Mark Toner said Mr Assad was "deluded" if he thought there was a military solution to the conflict. |
| Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, have almost encircled rebels in parts of the northern city of Aleppo. | Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, have almost encircled rebels in parts of the northern city of Aleppo. |
| More than 250,000 people have been killed and some 11 million displaced in almost five years of fighting in Syria. | More than 250,000 people have been killed and some 11 million displaced in almost five years of fighting in Syria. |
| On Saturday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saudi Arabia would send war planes to the Turkish air base of Incirlik, from where they would attack militants in Syria from the so-called Islamic State. | On Saturday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saudi Arabia would send war planes to the Turkish air base of Incirlik, from where they would attack militants in Syria from the so-called Islamic State. |
| Saudi Arabia is already part of the international coalition against IS. | Saudi Arabia is already part of the international coalition against IS. |
| Mr Cavusoglu also said it was possible that troops from his country and Saudi Arabia might participate in a ground operation against IS forces. The US has so far ruled out a ground invasion. | Mr Cavusoglu also said it was possible that troops from his country and Saudi Arabia might participate in a ground operation against IS forces. The US has so far ruled out a ground invasion. |
| Moscow has warned against any new foreign ground intervention in the country, saying such a development could even lead to a world war. | Moscow has warned against any new foreign ground intervention in the country, saying such a development could even lead to a world war. |
| Syria conflict - key questions | Syria conflict - key questions |
| Why is there a war in Syria? | Why is there a war in Syria? |
| Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. | Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. |
| Who is fighting whom? | Who is fighting whom? |
| Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. | Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. |
| How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
| Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. | Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. |