Russia on Thursday warned of "bloody chaos" in Syria should peace talks led by U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi fail to end the 21-month conflict estimated to have claimed more than 45,000 lives.

"The alternative to a peaceful solution is bloody chaos. The longer it continues, the greater its scale -- and the worse things get for all," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Interfax news agency.

The Syrian vice president's criticism of leader Bashar Assad has highlighted the cracks in the regime's highest ranks, pitting supporters of compromise against the president's hardline inner circle.

Assad's closest aides believe the regime should keep fighting and that they can still win a war against rebels which has left more than 44,000 dead in almost two years.

France said on Thursday that President Bashar Assad should not have any role in Syria's political transition as he had too much blood on his hands.

"Bashar Assad, who is still ferociously repressing his people and bears responsibility for the 45,000 victims of this conflict cannot be part of the political transition," foreign ministry deputy spokesman Vincent Floreani said.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday that threats to target foreign countries' interests in Lebanon will have negative impact on the country after the families of abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria warned of targeting Turkish interests if the men weren't released soon.

The president, during the final cabinet session of 2012 held at the Baabda Palace, pointed out that he is directly following up the case along with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and the competent ministerial committee.

The Higher Islamic Shiite Council urged on Thursday the families of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria to have patience, rejecting any “negative” endeavor that they might adopt to press forward the release of the men.

A meeting held between the Council's Vice President Abdul Amir Qabalan and Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, who has been tasked by the authority to follow up the case, called on the families not to further complicate the case.

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Thursday called for "real" change in war-torn Syria and the installation of a transition government with full powers until elections can be held.

"We need to form a government with all powers... which assumes power during a period of transition. That transition period will end with (presidential or parliamentary) elections," the U.N. and Arab League envoy told reporters.

Russia on Thursday denied the existence of any joint plan with the United States on the crisis in Syria, after reports of an initiative that would see President Bashar Assad step down in 2014.

"There was not and is not such a plan and it is not being discussed," foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters, saying Russia's Syria policy was still based on an accord with world powers made back in June for an inter-Syrian dialogue.

Cabinet approved on Thursday the regulations at the petroleum authority, while introducing amendments to the salaries of its employees.

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said at the end of the last session of 2012 that the salaries will be lowered from L.L.36 million to L.L.25 million.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar, who was wounded in a bombing and was brought to Beirut for treatment a week ago, flew home after Lebanese authorities received information that international arrest warrants could be issued against him, a top security official said.

Al-Shaar left to Damascus on a private jet, officials at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport said Tuesday.

Iran and Russia are holding consultations to defuse tension in Lebanon over the crisis in the neighboring country Syria.

A diplomatic source told al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday that the two countries want to end the disputes in Lebanon between the political foes to maintain stability in it.