The Council of the Syrian province of Raqqa, a multi-ethnic civilian council formed by the residents of the province, wants to hold a meeting with Russia to discuss the future of the city after it is liberated from the Islamic State group, the council’s deputy head Mohammad Hijazi told Sputnik.



Hijazi said that the council was holding a meeting in Turkey's Gaziantep with representatives of the United States, the Netherlands and Italy on running the province after its liberation from IS militants.



"We hope that we will have contact with the Russian side, that we will meet with them in Turkey. There should be diversity, the Russian side is very welcome in our province of Raqqa... I, as deputy head of the council, ask for a meeting with the Russian special envoy or the Russian ambassador," Hijazi said.

The Syrian Deocratic Forces, with support from the U.S.-led coalition, have encircled the centre of the city after fierce clashes with ISIS fighters.