A Russian official said yesterday it would not be possible for an international conference aimed at setting up talks between the Syrian government and opposition to be organised before the end of May.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Tuesday that Washington and Moscow would seek a conference on Syria and said it could be held this month.

But the Russian official, who was at talks between President Vladimir Putin and David Cameron, said: "By the end of May is impossible."

■RUSSIA