Russian envoy: Syria needs ‘free elections’ after IS defeat

In this image made from video provided by Homs Media Centre, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, smoke rises after airstrikes by military jets in Talbiseh of the Homs province, western Syria, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. Russian military jets carried out airstrikes in Syria for the first time on Wednesday, targeting what Moscow said were Islamic State positions. U.S. officials and others cast doubt on that claim, saying the Russians appeared to be attacking opposition groups fighting Syrian government forces. (Homs Media Centre via AP)

By Associated Press October 1, 2015 1 min read

PARIS (AP) – The Russian ambassador to France says Syria needs free elections under international supervision after the defeat of Islamic State group.

Alexander Orlov, speaking Thursday to France Info radio, said Russian warplanes targeted Islamic State and al-Nusra and that the Russian military had coordinated with American counterparts via “confidential channels.” His comments contradicted U.S. criticism that there was no formal coordination and that targets that did not appear to include Islamic State.

Orlov said Russia intervened only after the repeated failure of the U.S.-led coalition to dislodge the Islamic extremist group, and that he hoped for “free elections” in Syria within a year.

The U.S. and Russia agree on the need to fight the Islamic State group but not about what to do with Syrian President Bashar Assad.