John Kerry to visit London for Syria talks

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Image caption John Kerry met Russia"s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov (left), on Saturday for peace talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry is to attend a meeting in London on the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Mr Kerry will join French and German foreign ministers for talks hosted by UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

On Saturday Mr Kerry met Russia"s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, along with representatives from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey for peace talks.

It comes after a ceasefire in Syria brokered by the US and Russia last month collapsed after only a few days.

Since then Syrian forces, backed by Russia, have been bombing the city of Aleppo – the most high-profile battleground in the country"s five-year civil war – in what Washington has called a war crime.

The BBC"s Geneva correspondent Imogen Foulkes said Mr Kerry will not arrive in London with a detailed new peace plan for Syria, but instead with what he says are "fresh ideas".

Image copyright AP

Image caption Talks on Saturday brought no progress on ending the bombing of Aleppo

On Saturday Russia and the US were joined at the peace talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, by countries who back opposing sides in the war.

Iranian troops are currently supporting Syrian forces, while Saudi Arabia is arming the opposition.

All the diplomats agreed to continue talking.

Mr Kerry suggested there could be a new road map for a ceasefire and a political transition for the country.

But the implication is that this could be a very long process, our correspondent added.

The talks brought no progress on an end to the bombing of Aleppo or aid for Syria"s besieged towns.

Image copyright PA

Image caption Boris Johnson said those behind some of the attacks in Aleppo should face trial for war crimes

The talks in London follow an emergency debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday on the situation in Syria.

During the debate Mr Johnson said he would like to see a protest against bombings of Aleppo, which are being blamed on Russia, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, outside the Russian embassy.

But Moscow, which denies the claims, accused him of "Russophobic hysteria".

The United Nations has warned that eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 275,000 people still live, could face "total destruction" within two months.

Last week, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in the city.

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John Kerry to visit London for Syria talks
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