Putin said willing to sideline Assad in Syria

Bloomberg says Moscow focusing on fighting IS; US, Russian and Saudi leaders have been discussing plan since June.
Russia may be willing to sideline Syrian President Bashar Assad as part of efforts to combat Islamic State and in order to maintain its influence in the Middle East, according to US and Russian officials and Syrian opposition leaders. Bloomberg reported early Monday that American, Russian and Saudi officials and members of the Syrian opposition have been discussing the issue at least since June, when Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed in St. Petersburg. Russia has since then embarked on “whirlwind diplomacy,” Bloomberg said, holding talks in Moscow with key officials from the region. US President Barack Obama has in recent days warned Russia to rethink its apparent efforts to bolster Assad after more than four years of brutal civil war that has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Moscow in turn has insisted that it is not seeking to shore up Assad’s regime, but rather is supporting what it says is a key element in combatting Islamic State. Saudi Arabia, however, has long sought Assad’s ouster, arming Syrian opposition groups fighting the regime forces. According to Bloomberg, US and Russian officials say they’re mulling a “transition plan,” which would effectively leave Assad powerless even as he remained interim head of state.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/putin-said-willing-to-sideline-assad-in-syria/