Russia suggests US to blame for holding up Syria deal

  • 10/09/2016
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (Reuters)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (Reuters)

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States and Russia have finalised a plan to reduce violence in Syria and lead to a political transition ending more than five years of war.

Kerry says the deal clinched with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov could be a "turning point"' for the conflict, if implemented.

He spoke early on Saturday at a joint press conference with Lavrov after a marathon day of negotiations in Geneva.

This follows comments by Mr Lavrov which suggested that the United States was holding up a deal on Syria.

"We're thinking of maybe calling it a day, maybe meeting next week," Mr Lavrov previously told reporters waiting for a potential deal to be announced at a press conference between the two diplomats on Friday.

Reuters