(CNN) -- Russia said Friday it invited a Syrian opposition leader for talks despite its criticism of countries that recognize his group as the legitimate representative of the Middle East nation.
The move comes after news that Moscow has called for the revival of a peace plan that is unpopular with the warring sides in the Syrian civil war.Russia invited Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, the leader of the Syrian National Coalition.The talks with him can be held in Moscow or another location, such as Geneva or Cairo, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told state-run RIA Novosti.Al-Khatib said he does not plan to go to Moscow."We could meet in an Arab nation with a clear agenda," he said. "There appears to be total disregard in Russia's position to all massacres that happened to the Syrian people."The Syrian National Coalition has been recognized by the United States and a number of Western and Arab nations as the legitimate representative of Syrians.The invitation appears to signal a change in position for Russia, which has criticized countries that recognized the group over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.if (typeof cnnArticleGallery == "undefined") {var cnnArticleGallery = {};}if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList =="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList = [];}var expGallery91=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGallery91.setImageCount(33);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Showdown in Syria", 1);
Free Syrian Army fighters stand near damaged cars in Aleppo on Thursday, December 27. Click through to view images from Syria from December, or see photos of the conflict from November.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":true,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":1,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
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Free Syrian Army members display shrapnel from what they say are the remains of a rocket fired from the Syrian army in northern Aleppo on Thursday, December 20. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":4,"title":"Showdown in Syria"}
An unexploded bomb is seen lodged in a street in Ghouta, east of Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, December 19.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":5,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
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A child sits in the back of a vehicle at the border crossing leading to Masnaa, Lebanon, as people wait to stamp their documents before leaving Syria on December 19. Click through to view images from Syria from December, or see photos of the conflict from November.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":7,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
Palestinian children who fled the Syrian refugee camp of Yarmuk wait at the Masnaa Border Crossing leading into Lebanon on December 19.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":8,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
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Rebel fighters push out a boat carrying two Syrian women fleeing to Turkey through the Orontes River near the northern Syrian town of Darkush on December 14.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":12,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
Passengers gather at a terminal at the airport in Aleppo, Syria, on Wednesday, December 12.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":13,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
A member of the Syrian opposition's Al-Buraq Brigade stands guard on a main road in the northern Syrian town of Ain Dakna near the Turkish border on Monday, December 10. Click through to view images of the fighting from December, or see photos of the conflict from November.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":14,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} 
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A wounded rebel fighter is transported to a hospital in the back of a truck in Aleppo, Syria, on Thursday, December 6. At least 23 people died in Syria on Thursday, most of them in Damascus and Aleppo, according to the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":23,"title":"Showdown in Syria"}
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In this handout from the Shaam News Network, Free Syrian Army fighters stand guard against forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Al-khalidiya neighborhood of Homs on Tuesday, December 4. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":26,"title":"Showdown in Syria"}
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Smoke rises from fighting in the Hanano and Bustan al-Basha districts of Aleppo on Saturday, December 1. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":32,"title":"Showdown in Syria"}
Syrian-Kurdish women and members of the Popular Protection Units, an armed opposition group to the Syrian government, stand guard during a comrade's funeral in a northern Syrian border village on December 1.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":9,"y":1,"pos":33,"title":"Showdown in Syria"} Photos: Showdown in Syria Event.observe(window, 'load', function() {//report the first gallery image to ADBPif(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined') {cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image, "");}});var currExpandable="expand29";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='world/2012/12/26/wr-jamjoom-syria-defection.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121226091217-wr-jamjoom-syria-defection-00004919-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand29Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand39";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='world/2012/12/24/jamjoom-syria-bakery-attack.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121224031213-jamjoom-syria-bakery-attack-00002015-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand39Store=mObj;var currExpandable="expand49";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.source='world/2012/12/23/jamjoon-syria-violence-saturday.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121223121744-jamjoon-syria-violence-saturday-00003909-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand49Store=mObj;Russia and China have blocked attempts in the U.N. Security Council to take action to end the conflict and force al-Assad to step down.But as the conflict rages and the casualty count climbs to an estimated 40,000, Russia appears to be willing to look at other options. At least 139 people were killed Friday across Syria, opposition activists said.News of the invitation came the same day international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived in Moscow to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, state-run Itar-Tass reported.On Thursday, Lavrov appeared to join Brahimi's call for the revival of his peace plan, which called for the creation of a transitional government in Damascus to hold power until an election.The Geneva communique was drawn up in June during a conference in Switzerland that brought together representatives from world powers that had been at odds over the Syrian conflict.The plan called for a cease-fire, a transitional government and the writing of a new constitution, though it did not specify whether al-Assad would have to step down. Russia and China joined France, Britain, the United States and Turkey in agreeing on the plan. Arab League nations also signed on to it.But since then, fighting has escalated and rebels have seized a number of strongholds from al-Assad's forces."Given the developments in Syria, chances for such a solution based on the communique ... are dwindling, but there is still a chance and we should struggle for it," Lavrov said.But neither the opposition nor al-Assad's government has signaled a willingness to sign on to it.Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that regime change in Syria was inevitable. "There is no turning back from a regime change in Syria," he told state-run TRT television. "We are getting prepared for it. The world is getting prepared for it and the Syrian people are getting prepared for it."Erdogan also said Turkey continued to welcome Syrians fleeing the violence, adding that Syrian refugees staying in camps in Turkey exceeded 140,000.The Free Syrian Army said Thursday it would reject any plan that allows al-Assad or elements of his government to remain in power.CNN's Chelsea J. Carter and Hamdi Alkshali contributed to this report. 
December 21, 2012 -- Updated 1120 GMT (1920 HKT) 
Ivan Watson looks at the latest on Syria today. Among the topics is Putin saying he's not concerned by the Assad regime.
Syrian children don't paint flowers and teddy bears, but some of the images they saw in the hometowns they were forced to abandon -- bodies.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 2057 GMT (0457 HKT) 
The war has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes; the lucky ones have found shelter across the border in crammed camps.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 1215 GMT (2015 HKT) 
Half a million have registered as refugees -- but one Red Cross worker says the true figure is far higher as many are scared to register.December 14, 2012 -- Updated 1205 GMT (2005 HKT) 
CNN's Ivan Watson speaks to a 32-year-old violinist -- who used to perform at the Damascus Opera House -- about the life on the run.December 13, 2012 -- Updated 1120 GMT (1920 HKT) 
Amid the constant threat of a street battle erupting around the corner, a new underground TV channel has become must-see for residents of Aleppo.December 12, 2012 -- Updated 1044 GMT (1844 HKT) 
With the precision of a chef, Sheik Omar adjusts the flame under his pan. He mixes sugar with a noxious chemical to make bombs for opposition.December 5, 2012 -- Updated 1236 GMT (2036 HKT) 
Children elbow each other for the last burnt scraps of cracked wheat. Even as fighting subsides in parts of Aleppo, fear and chaos remain.November 17, 2012 -- Updated 2305 GMT (0705 HKT) 
Syrian fight overflows to Turkish town of Ceylanpinar, where residents deal with explosions, bullets or bombs coming from the Syrian side.December 5, 2012 -- Updated 1232 GMT (2032 HKT) 
Down a steep stone stairway and into the darkness lies a cold chamber that looks more like a dungeon than a home. CNN's Arwa Damon reports.November 9, 2012 -- Updated 1223 GMT (2023 HKT) 
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made an ominous threat against foreign intervention, saying it would have a "domino impact" on the world.November 27, 2012 -- Updated 0311 GMT (1111 HKT) 
Photojournalist Robert King describes the bombs that fell on a hospital and other fatal attacks he saw in Syria.December 28, 2012 -- Updated 1217 GMT (2017 HKT) 
As the conflict drags on, hundreds of thousands of people see their homes and lifes destroyed. See the latest photos from Syria.December 17, 2012 -- Updated 1516 GMT (2316 HKT) 
CNN's Arwa Damon reports from inside Aleppo on a female Syrian war photographer breaking taboos in the name of freedom. October 11, 2012 -- Updated 1119 GMT (1919 HKT) 
The recent confrontation could ignite regional convulsions as Turkey is sucked into Syria, leading to belated actions from the international community.
Are you in Syria? Share your stories, videos and photos with the world on CNN iReport, but please stay safe.Today's five most popular stories
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