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Bashar al-Assad says he is ready to hold elections in Syria 'if the people want it' Bashar al-Assad says he is ready to hold elections in Syria 'if the people want it'
(about 4 hours later)
President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to hold early presidential elections if the Syrian people wanted it. President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to hold snap presidential elections.
President Assad previously said "opposition forces" could form part of a new government, which would be agreed at peace talks in Geneva. President Assad told Russian news agency RIA he would hold elections if the Syrian people wanted it.
He told RIA he expected it to consist of "independent forces, opposition forces and forces loyal to the state". Speaking in a previous interview, he said "opposition forces" could form part of a new government, which would be agreed at peace talks in Geneva.
However, the opposition insists Mr Assad must step down.  He told RIA he expected it to consist of "independent forces, opposition forces and forces loyal to the state". However, the opposition insists Mr Assad must step down. 
The Syrian government does not recognise rebel groups, commonly referring to them as "terrorists".  The Syrian government does not recognise rebel groups, commonly referring to them as "terrorists".
Although Russian air strikes, which started in September at the request of President Assad, were initially intended to target Isis, they are widely reported to have targeted opposition groups.
Russian air strikes have also been accused of "indiscriminately" targeting residential areas and killing countless civilians. 
Over 250,000 people have died since the start of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, which has caused a refugee crisis and empowered Isis militants.Over 250,000 people have died since the start of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, which has caused a refugee crisis and empowered Isis militants.
David Cameron has repeatedly said the Syrian president has no place in the country's future and has called for a peaceful transition to a new government. 
The Syrian opposition has agreed a temporary ceasefire with government forces as peace talks continue in Geneva.The Syrian opposition has agreed a temporary ceasefire with government forces as peace talks continue in Geneva.
Previous research showed the Syrian government was responsible for more civilian deaths than Isis in 2015.