US reaches out to Syria's allies in Russia

Washington reached out to Syria's most important ally and protector Saturday, urging Russia to join a coordinated effort to resolve the deadly conflict as the violence spilled across the border into Lebanon, a senior State Department official said.

The international community has been frustrated by the failure of a UN-brokered peace plan to stop the bloodshed. Fears also have risen the violence could spread and provoke a regional conflagration. (AP)