Support The Moscow Times!

France's Hollande Urges Russia to Leave Syria

French President Francois Hollande

French President Francois Hollande called on Russia to cease its operation in Syria, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday, citing a Reuters report.

"We ask Russia to stop its actions, because thousands of people have left their homes due to the bombings. We have to be sure that Bashar Assad will step aside," Hollande said in an interview, RIA Novosti reported.

Hollande also accused Assad in murdering his people with Moscow's assistance.

This is not the first time that Russia has been accused of attacking Syrian civilians and opposition forces, but the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry have called such reports misinformation, RIA Novosti reported.

Read more