"It is up to the Syrian people to decide who will be the head of Syria.... At the moment, we operate on the premise that Al Assad is the legitimate president."
"It is up to the Syrian people to decide who will be the head of Syria.... At the moment, we operate on the premise that Al Assad is the legitimate president."
Rezaian, who has been jailed for over a year on charges of espionage, was recently convicted by a Revolutionary Court.
"I found both in Saudi and the UAE a desire, a will to move to the political phase as soon as possible."
The troops were travelling in a military vehicle on a desert road linking Hadramawt to neighbouring Shabwa province when they were intercepted them fired on, an official said.
Putin said between 5,000 and 7,000 people from Russia and other ex-Soviet nations are fighting alongside Daesh militants.
Russia has previously launched cruise missiles at the militants from the Caspian Sea flying.
For the Syrian refugee family, one reprieve from crushing boredom in the asylum center is short walks to a lake.
Syrian troops and their allies, backed by Russian jets, attacked insurgent fighters south of Aleppo on Friday, a source in Syria and a monitoring group said.
Turkey is particularly concerned over claims that Russia's bombing campaign has targeted anti-Assad rebels rather than Daesh militants.
Russian warplanes launch 15 air strikes to support govt troops.