Lavrov: Syria ceasefire deal still working

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss separating Syria's moderate opposition from the group formerly known as the Nusra Front, Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying.

Lavrov said a ceasefire deal on Syria that Russia agreed with the United States was still working, the agencies reported.

He also said Russia was not using banned weapons in Syria and demanded evidence from those accusing Moscow of hitting civilian targets.

Comments by the US State Department that Russian interests or even cities could come under attack from militant Islamists if Moscow continued air strikes in Syria are unacceptable, Lavrov said.