Syria's Assad meets senior Russian diplomat

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov today, state media said, as Moscow pressed a bid to restart a peace process for the war-torn country.
SANA news agency did not give details on the talks in Damascus, which come after recent meetings Bogdanov had with Syrian opposition groups in Lebanon and in Turkey.
"In Istanbul, I met with Syrian opposition members," Bogdanov said as he arrived at his Damascus hotel.
"We want to reach an agreement on many issues with the Damascus authorities," he added.
Bogdanov's Syrian counterpart, Faisal Muqdad, said: "I am sure our Russian friends are bringing with them ideas that we will discuss, so that the bid succeeds, and so that we can reach a political solution that is mainly founded on the integrity of Syrian territory."

In November, key Damascus backer Russia held meetings in Moscow with a top opposition leader, Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib, and with a delegation headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
No date has yet been set for any future talks.