USA: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has urged the creation of a broad anti-terror coalition that would include the Syrian government troops.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Mr Putin said it was a “huge mistake” not to engage the Syrian army in the fight against the Islamic State group.

He also criticised the West for arming “moderate” rebels in Syria, saying they later come to join the Islamic State terror group.

Without naming the United States, he said a “single centre of dominance has emerged after the end of Cold War”, and attempts have been made to revise the UN role.

Earlier, President Barack Obama said the United States is willing to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to solve the Syrian conflict.

But he said bringing about an end to the four-year civil war means Syrian President Bashar Assad cannot stay in office.

Mr Obama said Mr Assad responded to peaceful protests with repression and killing and would not be able to satisfactorily bring peace to the nation.

Mr Obama called the situation in Syria “an assault on all our humanity”.

Earlier, the UN secretary-general has called for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

Ban Ki-moon insisted on a political solution to the conflict in Syria, now well into its fifth year with more than a quarter of a million people killed.

He said five countries “hold the key” to a political solution to Syria: Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran.

He said “innocent Syrians pay the price of more barrel bombs and terrorism” and there must be no impunity for “atrocious” crimes.

The Syrian conflict is “driven by regional powers and rivalries,” Mr Ban said.

On the sidelines of this week’s meeting, leaders and diplomats from the major players are trying to address them.

Other crises at the center of discussions include the related refugee and migrant crisis, the largest since the upheaval of the Second World War.

The UN chief warned that resources to address these crises are dangerously low.

He said the UN has just half of what it needs to help people in Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen, and just a third of what’s needed for Syria.