Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is the problem and not the solution where the crisis in Syria is concerned, French President Francois Hollande said today.
"We need to work to find a political solution," Mr Hollande said during a visit to Athens. "Bashar al-Assad is not the solution, he is the problem."
The French President was speaking at a news conference alongside Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
European Union heads of state have been critical of Russia's military intervention in the civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people in Syria, but have failed to agree among themselves on whether President Assad should have any role in ending the crisis.
France has repeatedly said Mr Assad should not be involved in any talks.
Meanwhile, nine Russian air strikes hit hospitals or field clinics operating in war-torn Syria, killing civilians and medical staff yesterday, a Syrian medical organisation said.
The Syrian-American Medical Society, which operates several facilities in Syria, said a deadly strike earlier this week "adds to the previous estimated eight Russian air strikes on hospitals in Syria, as well as the 313 attacks on medical facilities since the start of the conflict".
It said several of its facilities had been hit in Russia's bombing campaign, including in the Mediterranean coastal province of Latakia and the central province of Hama on 2 October and in the north-western province of Idlib on Tuesday.
The latest strike killed two medical personnel and at least 10 civilians, and wounded 28 civilians, it said.
Russia has strongly denied reports that its aircraft hit the hospital in the Idlib province town of Sarmin, describing them as "fake".
Syrian-American Medical Society president Ahmad Tarakji called for international action to stop hospitals and clinics being hit again.
"We call on the international community to use all means necessary to end attacks on civilians and to prevent the further targeting of healthcare facilities in Syria," he said.
Russia began its air campaign in Syria on 30 September in support of Mr Assad.
The campaign has been criticised not only for causing civilian casualties but also for targeting non-jihadist rebel groups more than the Islamic State group or al-Qaeda.
