Russia Calls for New Syrian Constitution to End War

Russia is calling for a new Syrian constitution to help put an end to the nearly five-year war in Syria.

The document prepared by the Russian government calls for the drafting of a new constitution in the next 18 months.

It would be put to a popular referendum and followed by an early presidential election.

The proposal makes no mention that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should step down during the transition. It only mentions that "the president of Syria will not chair the constitutional commission."

The document was leaked ahead of a second round of talks in Vienna on Saturday.

Russian Deputy U.N. Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov, who expressed regret that the document had been leaked, told The Associated Press, "It's our vision - it's our proposal."

"And of course we are receptive for proposals from the other side. It's just Russian contribution, how we launch a political process ... to make parties work together, government and opposition," he said.

U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hopes the second round of talks in Vienna will "bring some deliverables for the Syrian people, and one of them should be reduction of violence ... and I hope something in that direction can be achieved."