Kerry says still some ‘kinks’ to be resolved in Syrian opposition deal

The group had earlier declared it had pulled out of the meeting.

An array of Syrian opposition groups agreed in Riyadh on Thursday to form a new and more inclusive body to guide the diverse and divided opponents of President Bashar al-Assad in a new round of planned talks aimed at ending the Syrian civil war.

“They want the Syrian government to negotiate with the terrorists, something I don’t think anyone would accept in any country”, Assad added.

In Tehran, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country does not approve the oppositions’ meeting in Riyadh.

The United States swiftly welcomed the Riyadh accord.

The meeting, aims at forming a unified front ahead of proposed peace negotiations with Assad’s government.

Observers from Britain, France and the USA rubbed shoulders with extremists from Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, while Kurdish militias and opposition parties in Syria’s parliament were excluded.

The Saudi-led talks were what US Secretary of State John Kerry called “an important step forward” and followed a temporary truce between rebels and government forces in the Syrian city of Homs.

It would see a transitional government set up within six months and elections held within 18 months, and calls for negotiations between the opposition and Assad’s regime by January 1. The opposition and their armed rebels have repeatedly said there will be no role for al-Assad in the future of Syria.

“The situation on the military level is a lot better than before, but again, the cost is rather high”, he said, mentioning foreign aid for rebels, which he referred to as “a lifeline for those terrorists” as being the cause.

For Karim Bitar of the Institute for worldwide and Strategic Affairs, “the apparent split in Ahrar al-Sham is a first sign that things could go wrong”. Spokesman John Kirby said, “It’s unclear to us… whether these claims of support to the FSA are true”.

But al-Assad’s two close allies, Russian Federation and Iran, said his political fate should be up to Syrians to decide.

Moscow launched air strikes in Syria 10 weeks ago, helping the Syrian army – backed by Iranian troops, Hezbollah fighters and allied militia – to contain rebel advances.

Supporters of President Bashar al-Assad dismiss the talks for insisting that the Syrian leader must step down.