London, Dec 29 : Russia has invited the new Syrian Opposition Coalition for talks and demanded President Bashar al-Assad negotiate with his enemies to end 21 months-old uprising against his rule.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said the offer of talks was sent through the embassy in Cairo to Ahmad Mouaz al-Khatib, the head of the coalition.

The overture came despite previous Russian criticism of Western powers for recognising the new group, the Telegraph reports.

According to the paper, in response, Mr Khatib said his group was open to talks, but only on neutral territory and only if Russia first made a "clear condemnation of the crimes committed by the Syrian regime".

Lavrov refused to add Russia''s voice to international calls for Assad to step aside, saying he expected the Syrian people to decide their country''s fate.

He insisted that Moscow wanted Assad to consider standing down as part of a transition of power agreed by world powers in Geneva. (ANI)