damascus

US envoy to UN also accused Russia of failing to ensure that there were no chemical weapons in the possession of the Syrian government

Russia and the US will meet with regional powers to discuss possible steps for Syria crisis settlement on October 15 in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia has vetoed a French resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council. The document was submitted by Paris a week ago and is countered by a Russian draft resolution still to be voted on.

At least eight people have been killed in suicide bomb attacks on a suburb of Damascus which is home to Syria's holiest Shia shrine, state media say.