A Syrian opposition delegation may visit Moscow before the end of the year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Russia Today TV channel, Voice of Russia reported.

He added that Russia opts for the unification of the Syrian opposition. Lavrov pointed out that a delegation of internal Syrian opposition favouring a peaceful settlement through dialogue with the government in Damascus paid a visit to Russia last week.

Moscow is prepared to shore up the unification of the opposition on the basis of readiness for dialogue, Lavrov said.

The armed conflict has been raging in Syria since March last year, with over 37,000 having since fallen victim to fighting.

The rebels are pressing for President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation, but the government in Damascus claims that fighting in Syria under the guise of rebels are foreign mercenaries and militants, among others.