Syria, Russia top diplomats to meet as talks pressure builds

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem was to hold talks in Moscow Monday with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as Russia puts pressure on both the opposition and the Syrian regime to open direct talks to end their two-year conflict.

Lavrov said last week there were positive signs from both sides of a new willingness to talk but called on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to turn oft-stated words about its readiness for dialogue into deeds.

"Russia is increasing its efforts for a rapid solution to the Syrian crisis," a Russian foreign ministry official told the RIA Novosti news agency. "We are working to this end with both the government, the opposition and influential external forces," the official added.

Russia has also been working on agreeing a trip to Moscow, possibly in early March, by the head of the Syrian opposition National Coalition Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.

However the rebels have now pulled out of talks with foreign powers in protest at the international community's inability to halt the bloodshed.