Syrian opposition mulls Assad’s future
Syria’s opposition groups were discussing the future role of President Bashar al-Assad on the second day of talks in Saudi.
|||Beirut - Syria’s disparate opposition groups on Thursday were discussing the future role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the second day of talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at building a united front among them, an opposition member said.
The Western-backed Syrian opposition and armed rebels have repeatedly insisted that there will be a role for al-Assad in the future of Syria.
Ahmad Soner, a member of the main Syrian opposition National Coalition, said the participants in the talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, were also discussing the time frame for a transitional period in Syria.
“The conferees agreed Wednesday on eight points, which are basic for the future of Syria,” Soner said.
He said the points included fighting terrorism and rejecting the presence of foreign fighters in Syria, preserving the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and setting up a civilian, democratic government.
Soner did not give further details.
More than 100 opposition representatives ranging from secularist politicians tolerated by al-Assad’s regime to hardline Islamist rebels are attending the Riyadh conference, which started Wednesday behind closed doors.
The meeting comes amid international pressure on the opposition to negotiate with the Syrian government to reach a political solution to the country’s conflict, now in its fifth year.
Syria’s moderate opposition factions have been weakened by divisions, allowing jihadist rebels, mainly Islamic State, to establish a foothold in the country.
World powers want the Syrian opposition to unite and choose a unified delegation for peace talks that are planned to start next month.
Top diplomats from 20 countries met in Vienna in October for talks on Syria.
For the first time, Iran, al-Assad’s closest ally, was at the conference table for those talks.
A major sticking point in Vienna was the fate of al-Assad, who has been in power since 2000.
DPA