Syria’s Assad says he will not negotiate with armed groups

Major powers agreed in Vienna last month to revive diplomatic efforts to end the war, calling for peace talks to start by January and elections within two years.

The member of the National Coalition opposition group added the group would include six from rebel factions, six from the coalition, eight independent figures and five from the NCB.

Separately, a listing of names the factions drew up in Riyadh showed armed rebel groups would compose the largest single group in a combined Syrian opposition body that would oversee talks with Assad’s government. Participants also agreed on the need to safeguard state institutions while restructuring the security forces.

Russia, the USA and the United Nations will hold three-way talks in Geneva on Friday as part of their preparations for a new round of talks in Vienna following meetings that brought both Saudi Arabia and Iran to the table for the first time. “There’s a big difference between militants, terrorists and opposition”, Assad said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday the United States welcomed the positive outcome of the gathering of the Syrian opposition in Riyadh, including reaching a consensus on principles for a pluralistic and democratic Syria and on how to advance a political settlement to end the conflict in Syria.

More than 100 opposition representatives – ranging from secularist politicians tolerated by al-Assad’s regime, to hardline Islamist rebels – attended the Riyadh conference.

Security was exceptionally tight at the hotel venue in the Saudi capital Thursday.

Assad said organizations considered to be “terrorist around the world, like ISIS (Islamic State) or al-Nusra”, have hundreds of millions of dollars and “a almost full army like any other state”, a situation he said was only possible due to the direct support of countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

One key Syrian opposition group, Ahrar al-Sham, quit the meeting on Thursday but is reported to have returned and signed the statement.

“This conference was an important step ahead of the next ISSG meeting next week”.

Speaking Friday on the sidelines of global climate talks outside Paris, Kerry said there are some questions and “kinks to be worked out” in the agreement put together at an opposition meeting in Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said: “Al-Assad will leave with no doubt, either by a political solution, which can be easier for all, or he will leave through a military solution because he is no longer wanted by the Syrian people”.