Assad: No talks with Russia about leaving power

Mr Assad said he was not concerned about the US and Russia reaching a deal on his future

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said Russia has never talked to him about leaving power.

"They never said a single word regarding this," Mr Assad told NBC News, referring to conversations with President Vladimir Putin and officials. He said "only the Syrian people" would decide "when to come and when to go".

Fighting in Aleppo has intensified in recent weeks

The US, which accuses Syria's leader of responsibility for atrocities, says he must go as part of a political transition to end the conflict there. Russia has given the Syrian government strong diplomatic and military backing in its fight against rebels, but Mr Putin has said only a political solution can resolve the conflict.

Mr Assad's comments came as US Secretary of State John Kerry prepared to fly to Moscow for fresh talks about Syria.