Russia Pushing Assad on Syrian Power-Sharing Plan, Advisers Say

• Syrian multi-party elections could be held in a year's time
• Russia doesn't intend to pressure Assad to leave power
• Russia is pushing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to accept a limited power-sharing plan that would give his opponents some role in a transitional administration while ensuring internationally-recognized elections can take place next year, advisers to the government in Moscow say.

  The more than three-week-old Russian air campaign, which is supporting a land offensive by Syrian forces and their Iranian allies, aims to change the balance of power on the ground enough to bring opposition representatives into the political process, they told Bloomberg News. Assad, 50, has every right to stay on and seek re-election, the government advisers said.  Read more