Lavrov: "Russia is ‘not in regime-change game’ in Syria."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says there is "absolutely" no chance of Moscow telling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stand down.

Mr Lavrov is due to visit London next week for talks with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Both countries say the Syrian crisis will top the agenda. Russia has traditionally been a close ally of the Syrian government and is the country's biggest arms supplier.

But while there is agreement that a negotiated settlement is the best way forward, Mr Lavrov told the BBC there was no question of Russia asking President Assad to stand aside.

"I can only say it is not for us to decide who should lead Syria. It is for the Syrians to decide," he said.

"The government reiterated its readiness to do the same including with those who are fighting on the ground. I believe we must encourage this trend on both sides."

He said he would be discussing such developments in detail with William Hague.