France rejects Russia's proposed United Nations resolution on Syria

The Kremlin on Saturday expressed concern over Turkey's shelling of Syria's territory, saying such actions were whipping up further tension on the two countries' border.

The draft resolution was put forth by Russia Friday at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

It was clearly aimed at Turkey, a leading backer of Syrian rebels that has threatened ground action and is continuing cross-border artillery shelling against a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria.

However, the text failed to garner support from key council members with at least six countries including veto-wielding France and the United States rejecting it outright during a closed-door meeting, diplomats said.

In its rejection, France warned Friday of "a risky military escalation" that could spiral out of control.

"Of course, the United States and its allies should be guided first and foremost by worldwide law and act not unilaterally, with coordinated steps with all concerned parties in the global community".

In comments to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, said the Syria talks won't resume in Geneva on February the 25th as he had previously hoped. All sides should cease-fire simultaneously and the government should release prisoners, it added.

In addition, Assad himself added his own conditions to any truce plan, saying on Saturday he was ready for a ceasefire on condition that "terrorists" did not use a lull in fighting to their advantage, and that countries backing insurgents halted support for them.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says he favors equipping Syrian rebels with surface-to-air missiles, arguing it would shift the balance of power.

More than 260,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began, with half the population displaced, including over four million overseas.