Main Syrian opposition group says it will join peace talks with Syrian govt if conditions are met

(11 Nov 2013) The main Western-backed Syrian opposition group says it intends to join peace talks with the Syrian government, providing certain conditions are met including the creation of humanitarian corridors to reach besieged areas and the setting of a strict timetable for negotiations. The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) has also demanded that Syrian President Bashar Assad step down in any transitional government as a condition for participation in the talks. "The General Assembly endorsed the Syrian Coalition's readiness to participate in a Geneva conference based on the transfer of power to a transitional governing body.... and on the fact that Assad and his associates, who have Syrian blood on their hands, will have no role in the transitional period and the future of Syria," said SNC spokesperson, Louay Safi, at a news conference in Istanbul on Monday. Earlier in the day the Coalition of Forces for Peaceful Change said in a statement that it too supported the Geneva talks and intended to attend them. Neither of the groups, however, have much influence over the disparate armed factions fighting to overthrow Assad. The Syria-based opposition ranges from officials close to the government, to intellectuals and parties that have opposed Assad's Baath party for decades. The exiled group ranges from secular intellectuals to Islamic activists. In its statement on Monday, however, the exiled Coalition said it would only attend the Geneva talks if humanitarian aid is allowed to reach besieged areas and the government releases political prisoners. The group itself wants any future transitional government to exclude Assad and his close allies - a demand the Syrian government has rejected. "We understand that people in Syria are afraid that Geneva would be about their betrayal. Sort of having a deal with the regime and leaving them under this monstrous regime. We don't want to do that," Safi told reporters. "This will not be open-ended negotiations. We have sort of landmarks, we have certain targets associated with the period of time," he added. The proposed Geneva conference faces a series of obstacles: the most powerful and best-armed rebel groups aren't party to the talks, and most fighting units are disorganised bands with little central command or leadership. Even if an agreement is reached in Geneva, it is unclear if it will be accepted on the ground. Monday's announcements by the opposition coalition came as Syrian government forces consolidated control over yet another northern town, part of a steadily advancing offensive that has reversed rebel gains in recent weeks. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...