MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia said on Wednesday ideas aired by Syrian President Bashar Assad in a speech on Sunday - criticized by his opponents, the United States and the UN chief - should be taken into account in the search for a solution to the conflict.

Assad "affirmed readiness for the launch of an inter-Syrian dialogue and for reforming the country on the basis of Syria's sovereignty ... and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.