Kerry tells Russia US patience on Syria ‘very limited’

US Secretary of State John Kerry warns Russia on Wednesday that US patience on the Syria conflict and the issue of President Bashar Assad’s fate is running out.

“Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable,” Kerry says during a visit to Norway.

“We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition” who have been involved in continuing violence, he says after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Peace talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict have stalled and Damascus has stepped up its military campaign against the Islamic State group and rebels in the second city of Aleppo.

“It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion,” Kerry says.

“This is a critical moment and we are working very, very hard to see if we can in the next week or two come to an agreement that has a capacity to more fully implement a ceasefire across the country and deliver humanitarian access in a way that then provides for a genuine opportunity to bring people to the table and start talking about a transition.”

— AFP