Syrian President Bashar Assad has left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups, and given "instructions" to "transfer power peacefully", Russia's foreign ministry has said.Moscow had not directly participated in these talks, the ministry said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.It also said it had been following the "dramatic events" in Syria "with extreme concern".

Syrian President Bashar Assad has left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups, and given "instructions" to "transfer power peacefully", Russia's foreign ministry has said.Moscow had not directly participated in these talks, the ministry said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.It also said it had been following the "dramatic events" in Syria "with extreme concern".