President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to hold snap presidential election.

President Assad told Russian news agency RIA he would hold election if the Syrian people wanted it.

Speaking in a previous interview, he said "opposition forces" could form part of a new government, which would be agreed at peace talks in Geneva.

He told RIA he expected it to consist of "independent forces, opposition forces and forces loyal to the state". However, the opposition insists Assad must step down.

President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Russian media published Wednesday that Syria needs a national unity government that would secure the transition to a new constitution, rejecting the "transitional body" demanded by the opposition, which wants him to step down.

The Syrian government does not recognize militant groups, commonly referring to them as "terrorists".

Over 250,000 people have died since the start of the Syrian war in March 2011, which has caused a refugee crisis.

David Cameron has repeatedly said the Syrian president has no place in the country's future and has called for a peaceful transition to a new government.

The Syrian opposition has agreed a temporary cease-fire with government forces as peace talks continue in Geneva.