Syrian Opposition Demands Assad Departure Deadline
May 30, 2013
by VOA News
Syria's opposition is demanding a deadline for Bashar al-Assad to leave power if it is to attend proposed international peace talks.
Meeting in Istanbul Wednesday, opposition leaders say they want "binding international guarantees," including what they call the "removal of the head of the regime" and its military command.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mollem says the Assad government is willing to attend the talks with no preconditions.
Plans for the U.S.-Russian sponsored conference are still not firm. Russia is demanding that Iran be allowed to come, which France says it is unacceptable. It is also not clear who will represent the Syrian government and the opposition is in disarray, with separate groups inside and outside Syria clashing over leadership.
Also Wednesday, the United States demanded that Lebanese-based and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters leave Syria immediately.
State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki calls Hezbollah's role in the fighting on the side of the Syrian army unacceptable and an extremely dangerous escalation.
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