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| Bashar al-Assad says he is ready to hold elections in Syria 'if the people want it' | Bashar al-Assad says he is ready to hold elections in Syria 'if the people want it' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to hold early presidential elections if the Syrian people wanted it. | President Bashar al-Assad has said he is ready to hold early presidential elections if the Syrian people wanted it. |
| President Assad previously said "opposition forces" could form part of a new government, which would be agreed at peace talks in Geneva. | President Assad previously said "opposition forces" could form part of a new government, which would be agreed at peace talks in Geneva. |
| He told RIA he expected it to consist of "independent forces, opposition forces and forces loyal to the state". | He told RIA he expected it to consist of "independent forces, opposition forces and forces loyal to the state". |
| However, the opposition insists Mr Assad must step down. | |
| The Syrian government does not recognise rebel groups, commonly referring to them as "terrorists". | |
| Over 250,000 people have died since the start of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, which has caused a refugee crisis and empowered Isis militants. | |
| The Syrian opposition has agreed a temporary ceasefire with government forces as peace talks continue in Geneva. |