Areas of "difficulty and difference" remain between Russia and the US ahead of key talks on the crisis in Syria, BBC News reported, citing a US official.


The state department spokesman played down chances of a deal at the talks, to take place on Saturday in Geneva.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier met US counterpart Hillary Clinton, and said there was a "very good chance" of finding common ground.


More than 100 people have been killed in Syria since Thursday, according to reports.


At least 25 people, including 11 civilians and 13 soldiers, died on Friday, and there were 117 civilian deaths on Thursday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.


Other groups are said to have given higher death tolls.


Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he would not accept any solution to his country's crisis imposed from outside.
He told Iranian television that it was an "internal issue" which had "nothing to do with foreign countries", stressing that no amount of foreign pressure would make his government change its policy on internal security.