Russian President Vladimir Putin has renewed his call for a political solution to the war in Syria, during a rare visit by the Syrian leader. Mr Putin told Bashar al-Assad the military campaign was “wrapping up”, but there was still “a long way to go”. A two-year Russian air campaign has given Syria a clear upper hand in the civil …

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with Venezuelan state television TeleSUR in Damascus, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria’s national news agency SANA on September 26, 2013. REUTERS/SANA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Monday any ceasefire did not mean each side had to stop using weapons, and nobody was capable of securing the conditions …