SOCHI, Russia, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday to carry out reforms and reconcile with his opponents, saying he risked a "sad fate" if he failed to do so.
"He (Assad) needs to urgently carry out reforms, reconcile with the opposition, restore peace and set up a modern state," Medvedev said in an interview in the southern Russian resort of Sochi with Russia’s Ekho Moskvy radio, Russia Today television and Georgia’s PIK-TV.
"If he fails to do this, he will face a sad fate," he said.
