Some 120 Islamic State fighters and 60 foreign mercenaries were killed in a series of Russian air strikes in Syria over the past 24 hours, the defence ministry in Moscow says.

French PM Manuel Valls urges Russia to stop bombing civilians while carrying out airstrikes in Syria - but Moscow denies harming them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin defends Russia's military operations in Syria, saying the aim is to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.