Assad meets Iranian FM Salehi

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Damascus on Wednesday .

In a bid to stem the bloodshed, Iran's foreign minister proposed a new regional monitoring mission ahead of talks with President Assad, Iranian state media reported. Two previous missions have collapsed.

Iran, like Moscow and Beijing, has called for an internal resolution without foreign interference.

Salehi and his delegation flew into Damascus after meeting in Cairo with international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi.

Earlier in the day Salehi held talks with Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem at the foreign ministry in Damascus.