Putin in personal plea to US to avoid strikes on Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a direct personal appeal to the American people over the Syrian crisis.

In an opinion article in the New York Times, he warns that a US military strike against Syria could unleash a new wave of terrorism.

He says millions of people see the US not as a model of democracy but as relying on brute force.

The US and Russia are due to hold talks in Geneva later over Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.