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US President Barack Obama chats with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Turkey in November 2015 [Kayhan Ozer/Reuters]

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama talked about Syria's escalating civil war over the phone and agreed to intensify efforts at bringing the fierce fighting to a halt, Russian media reported on Sunday.

The Interfax news agency said the call on Saturday was initiated by the US and focused on how to unite US-led and Russian military operations against armed groups fighting in the country, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

"The Russian president again emphasized the importance of creating a united anti-terrorist front while giving up double standards," the report said.

"An agreement was reached to intensify cooperation between the diplomatic agencies and other structures for the purpose of implementing the statement by the International Syria Support group adopted in Munich," it said.