Russian envoy to Paris says Assad ready for 'civilised' exit

PARIS: Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is ready to give up power but only in a "civilised manner", Russia's envoy to Paris Alexander Orlov told Radio France International (RFI) in an interview Friday.

Assad had accepted a transition plan agreed by world powers in Geneva and named a representative for talks with the opposition. "That is to say, he is accepting to go -- but to go in a civilised manner," Orlov said.