Syrian opposition refuses Moscow talks
EIRUT (AP) — Syria's main Western-backed opposition group has refused to participate in talks in Moscow with Syrian government organizations on resolving the country's humanitarian crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry and opposition figures said Friday.
Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said the Syrian National Coalition is "blocking and refusing to participate" in the talks. Russian officials had hoped the talks would bolster prospects for a proposed peace conference the U.S. and Russia are trying to convene in Geneva.
The coalition has demanded guarantees, including that President Bashar Assad would step down in any transitional Syrian government, as a condition for going to a conference in Geneva.
But Damascus has said Assad will stay in his post at least until his terms ends in 2014 and that he may run for re-election.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131108/AP01/311089965
