Kerry to Russia: Urge Assad to comply with cease-fire in Syria

WASHINGTON, - US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday there was an "urgent need" for the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop violating the cease-fire in Syria and called on Russia to help, the State Department said.

Kerry, in a telephone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, said, "The United States expected Russia to urge the regime to comply with the cessation and that we would work with the opposition to do the same."