US, Russia 'discussing 7-10 day truce' in Syria

The United States and Russia are examining the possibility of an interim ceasefire that could last up to ten days in Syria, Germany's foreign minister said on Friday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are locked in talks in Geneva on finding a way to halt the fighting in Syria.

Washington wants Moscow, which backs the Syrian regime, to help clinch a ceasefire, get humanitarian aid to civilians and - eventually - set the stage for political talks to end a five-year war that has killed more than 290,000 people, more than 400,000 by unofficial estimates.

In Berlin, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said both sides are now looking at a "real ceasefire document" for a halt in fighting for "between seven and ten days".

Differences between the two sides' positions have been reduced to two or three issues, he said, according to remarks carried by national news agency DPA.

These include which Syrian opposition groups can be characterised as moderate and which should be deemed extremist.

"There is no shortage of ambition. But there are some differences that have unfortunately not been bridged," said Steinmeier.