Assad removal will lead to civil war in Syria: Putin

Putin said on Monday that Assad’s ouster would be unconstitutional and "a civil war will stretch on for who knows how long."

The Russian president also urged the Syrian government and the opposition to sit down for talks that could help end the unrest.

"The Syrian leadership as well as the conflicting side, the so-called 'armed opposition,' … should organize a negotiating process… to achieve a mutually acceptable compromise for the country's future,” he said.

He made the comments after a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Putin stressed that Syria's political future should not be decided on the battleground.

"I believe that the future of the country should be decided not on the basis of a military victory or defeat of one of the sides but on the basis of negotiations and compromise," he noted.

    Last week, Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed UN Security Council draft resolution against Syria, which called for new sanctions against the Syrian government under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

It is the third time that the two world powers block an anti-Damascus resolution since the beginning of unrest in Syria.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The Syrian government says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the unrest and deadly violence while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.

Damascus also says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country and the security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians.