MOSCOW, February 8 (Itar-Tass) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has instructed Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa to hold a dialogue with all opposition forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

“It is necessary to call on the government and the opposition to start negotiations. Bashar al-Assad instructed Vice-President al-Sharaa to begin such dialogue,” Lavrov said.