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| John Kerry urges Syria opposition to attend talks | John Kerry urges Syria opposition to attend talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Syria's opposition to join next week's peace talks. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Syria's opposition to join next week's peace talks. |
| The main political opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, meets in Istanbul on Friday to vote on whether to go to the talks. | The main political opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, meets in Istanbul on Friday to vote on whether to go to the talks. |
| Mr Kerry stressed the aim of the so-called Geneva II talks was to begin the process of setting up a transitional government to end the war in Syria. | Mr Kerry stressed the aim of the so-called Geneva II talks was to begin the process of setting up a transitional government to end the war in Syria. |
| The three-year conflict has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people. | The three-year conflict has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people. |
| An estimated two million people have fled the country and some 6.5 million have been internally displaced. | An estimated two million people have fled the country and some 6.5 million have been internally displaced. |
| 'Mutual consent' | |
| "The United States urges a positive vote," Mr Kerry said ahead of the Syrian National Coalition's meeting. | "The United States urges a positive vote," Mr Kerry said ahead of the Syrian National Coalition's meeting. |
| He described the 21 January peace conference in Switzerland as the beginning of a process "that is the best opportunity for the opposition to achieve the goals of the Syrian people and the revolution". | He described the 21 January peace conference in Switzerland as the beginning of a process "that is the best opportunity for the opposition to achieve the goals of the Syrian people and the revolution". |
| "It is about establishing a process essential to the formation of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, established by mutual consent," Mr Kerry also said. | "It is about establishing a process essential to the formation of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, established by mutual consent," Mr Kerry also said. |
| "It is the only way to bring about an end to the civil war that has triggered one of the planet's most severe humanitarian disasters, and which has created the seeding grounds for extremism." | "It is the only way to bring about an end to the civil war that has triggered one of the planet's most severe humanitarian disasters, and which has created the seeding grounds for extremism." |
| Mr Kerry stressed that only people "agreed by both the opposition and the regime" would be considered for a role in any future transitional government. | Mr Kerry stressed that only people "agreed by both the opposition and the regime" would be considered for a role in any future transitional government. |
| An official from the Syrian National Council told reporters earlier this week that they had been warned privately that Britain and the US would rethink their support if it did not attend the peace talks. | An official from the Syrian National Council told reporters earlier this week that they had been warned privately that Britain and the US would rethink their support if it did not attend the peace talks. |
| Syria's opposition is deeply divided. | Syria's opposition is deeply divided. |
| Although the National Coalition is widely regarded abroad as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, there are several other opposition alliances and powerful Islamist rebel groups which refuse to recognise its authority. | Although the National Coalition is widely regarded abroad as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, there are several other opposition alliances and powerful Islamist rebel groups which refuse to recognise its authority. |
| In the past fortnight alone, more than 1,000 people have been killed in battles between rebel forces and jihadist fighters, an activist group reports. | In the past fortnight alone, more than 1,000 people have been killed in battles between rebel forces and jihadist fighters, an activist group reports. |
| Meanwhile, Syria's foreign minister, Walid Muallem, has been holding talks with his counterparts from Russia and Iran - who remain allies of Damascus - in Moscow. | |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there was no hidden agenda to their meeting. "This does not mean that we have some tri-party (peace) draft," he told reporters. | |
| Mr Lavrov is keen for Iran to be part of the peace talks, but Mr Kerry has said that Tehran must first agree to the Geneva I communique which calls for a political transition in Syria. | |
| In Damascus, Syria's National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar dampened hopes of a breakthrough next week. | |
| "Don't expect anything from Geneva II. Neither Geneva II, not Geneva III nor Geneva X will solve the Syrian crisis," he said. | |
| "The solution has begun and will continue through the military triumph of the state." | |
| 'Dumping ground' | 'Dumping ground' |
| Earlier on Thursday, the head of the UN body given the job of removing and destroying Syria's chemical weapons said the process had been slowed down by security concerns. | Earlier on Thursday, the head of the UN body given the job of removing and destroying Syria's chemical weapons said the process had been slowed down by security concerns. |
| Ahmet Uzumcu, of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said additional measures had been put in place and they still hoped to have destroyed the stockpile by end of June as planned. | Ahmet Uzumcu, of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said additional measures had been put in place and they still hoped to have destroyed the stockpile by end of June as planned. |
| Also on Thursday, Italy's Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi named Gioia Tauro as the port where the transfer of the chemical weapons from ship to ship would take place. | Also on Thursday, Italy's Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi named Gioia Tauro as the port where the transfer of the chemical weapons from ship to ship would take place. |
| Mr Lupi stressed that none of the cargo would come ashore, but Gioia Tauro's mayor still expressed concern at the plan, saying he had not been consulted and accusing the UN of making his town "a dumping ground". | Mr Lupi stressed that none of the cargo would come ashore, but Gioia Tauro's mayor still expressed concern at the plan, saying he had not been consulted and accusing the UN of making his town "a dumping ground". |
| The decision to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile arose from confirmation of a sarin gas attack in Damascus on 21 August, which killed hundreds of people and prompted international outrage. | The decision to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile arose from confirmation of a sarin gas attack in Damascus on 21 August, which killed hundreds of people and prompted international outrage. |