Russia to join key talks on Syria

VIENNA: The top diplomats from Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey will hold talks on the war in Syria Friday, after Moscow thrust itself into the heart of the conflict with its bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

The envoys from Washington, Riyadh and Ankara — all of which back groups battling against Assad — will look to sound out Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Vienna after the embattled Syrian strongman made a surprise visit to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin this week.