Donald Trump supports Russian efforts to tackle Isis in Syria

Tycoon said supporting Putin was better option than being 'jealous'

Donald Trump said it is better to support Russian efforts (AP)

Leading Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday said he supported Russian efforts to fight Isis militants in the Middle East, including Syria.

Asked whether he backed those like Russia who supported Syrian President Bashar al Assad, or those who see him as the source of Syria's current crisis, Mr Trump told NBC: “I side with the group that says if Russia wants to go and fight ISIS, you should let them as opposed to saying were jealous we don't want you to do that.”

Reuters reported that the 69-year-old Mr Trump, who is leading public opinion polls among those seeking the Republican Party's bid to win the White House in the 2016 election, said the United States should support those who want to destroy the militant group that has taken over large parts of Syria, as well as neighbouring Iraq.

Republicans have criticised Democratic US President Barack Obama's foreign policy in Syria, which has been mired in civil war for four years and has seen an influx of Islamic State militants.

Asked about whether Mr Assad was the source of the country's ills, Mr Trump said it was not clear and questioned who would replace him if he were ousted.

"The people that want to come in and replace Assad, nobody knows who they are and they could end up being worse," he said.

"We're constantly going out and siding with people and they turn out to be worse than the people who were there before."