Russia's new push for Syria dialogue unlikely to be fruitful

A man walks past Raqqa Museum, which activists said was damaged by airstrikes by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in Islamic State-controlled Raqqa, eastern Syria, November 25, 2014. REUTERS/Nour Fourat

MOSCOW/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Fresh Russian efforts to encourage Syrian peace talks are unlikely to make progress because Moscow rejects opposition and Western calls for the swift departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

Moscow has long-supported Assad, including with arms supplies for Syria, but he has become a more important ally for Russia since the Arab Spring protests toppled leaders in the Middle East, some of whom had close ties with Moscow.