Putin urges Syria talks, signals no shift

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Syria's crisis must be resolved through negotiations not force, and warned that if President Bashar al-Assad's government was toppled a civil war could continue with roles reversed.

"We think that the future of a country should not be decided on the basis of military victory or defeat of one of the sides, but through a negotiation process, on the basis of compromise and agreements reached," Putin said. (Reuters)