As it repeated its long-held stance that only Syrians can decide their fate, Moscow called on Saturday for a political transition in the crisis-hit country.

As it repeated its long-held stance that only Syrians can decide their fate, Moscow called on Saturday for a political transition in the crisis-hit country.

A day after UN-Arab League special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Moscow said the priority was for stopping violence.

"In our opinion, the priority task is to immediately stop any violence and bloodshed as well as provide Syrians including internally displaced persons and refugees with humanitarian aid," the foreign ministry said.

But it added: "At the same time it is necessary to secure the launch of a political transition process in Syria aimed at enshrining in law guaranteed and equal rights of all ethnic-confessional groups of this country."

Russia also reiterated its support for a transition plan that was agreed in Geneva in June but has since split world powers.

The ministry added that Bogdanov met a Syrian delegation led by Michel Kilo, a prominent anti-regime activist who opposes foreign intervention, and pledged to continue what he said active contacts with both Damascus and the opposition.