Russia and Turkey agree on safe zone in Syria's Idlib

Vladimir Putin has said the Syrian government will allow a demilitarised zone around the final rebel stronghold of Idlib.

The Russian president said the 15km-20km (9.3-12.4 miles) wide safe zone will be created in the northwest Syrian province by 15 October.

He agreed with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the buffer zone during a meeting in Sochi, southern Russia, which lasted more than four hours.

Forces from both countries will patrol it and no rebel or government forces will be allowed in it.

Mr Putin said the move is supported by the Syrian president, Bashar Assad, whose forces have been strengthening along the province's borders in recent days to try to recapture it after seven years of civil war.

Idlib is the last bastion of Syria's rebels and there have been protests in recent days by its residents over fears a government assault on the city would be catastrophic for civilians.

Turkey, which is on the opposite side of the conflict from Russia, had opposed an assault and has been in intense negotiations with the Kremlin after a summit between the two countries in Tehran ended without an agreement.

Russia is Mr Assad's biggest outside backer in his fight against rebels.

As part of the new zone, Mr Putin said "radically minded" rebels, including the al Nusra front, must withdraw from the area.

All heavy weapons must be withdrawn from the zone by 10 October, he added.

And by the end of the year transportation routes between Latakia and Aleppo, and Latakia and Hama must be restored, he said.

Mr Erdogan said the measures would "prevent a humanitarian crisis".

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia will not carry out a military assault on Syria's rebels after agreeing on the demilitarised zone, Russian news agencies reported.

Idlib's residents have been protesting in their thousands over fears of a long and bloody offensive, with their demands remaining the same over the past seven years - the fall of the Syrian regime and President Assad.

Aid agencies warned an attack would result in 700,000 to one million people being displaced, with about 10,000 having already moved towards the border by Saturday last week.