Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be decided by the Syrians.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (top R) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (top L) at the presidential palace in Damascus, on February 7, 2012. [Xinhua/AFP]

Lavrov, who just wrapped up his visit to Damascus, told a press conference that Syrians should seek themselves ways of national reconciliation.

"Any outcome of national dialogue should become the results of agreement between the Syrians themselves and should be acceptable to all the Syrians," Lavrov said.

"It is necessary to call on the government and the opposition to start negotiations. Bashar al-Assad has instructed Vice President (Farouk) al-Sharaa to begin such dialogue," he added.

The foreign minister also said that recall of ambassadors from Syria does not help create favorable conditions for carrying out Arab League's peace initiative.

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