This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/syria-un-peace-talks-syrian-foreign-minister-calls-opposition-fighters-traitors-9076574.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Syria peace talks: Syrian Foreign Minister calls opposition fighters 'traitors' Syria peace talks: John Kerry leads calls for removal of Assad
(about 1 hour later)
The Syrian Foreign Minister accused opposition fighters of being traitors and agents of its enemy Israel, as bitter accusations from both sides marred the beginning of peace talks aimed at bringing the conflict to an end. Delegates at the UN-led Syria peace talks in Switzerlandhave clashed over President Bashar al-Assad's future role in the country.  
The summit, which is being held in Montreux, Switzerland, is The summit, which is being held in Montreux, Switzerland, is discussing
discussing the Geneva II document which lays out a the Geneva II document which lays out a political transition plan for
political transition plan for Syria. Chaired by the UN Syria. Chaired by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the talks have brought
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the talks have brought members of members of the Syrian regime and opposition around the table for the first time
the Syrian regime and opposition around the table for the first since 2011.
time since 2011. Ahmad Jarba, the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, demanded
Walid al-Moallem, Syria's Foreign Minister, said in his opening that President Assad be removed from office, and accused the regime's forces of
speech that neighbouring countries have worsened the situation by supporting al-Qa'ida on the ground in Syria.
arming opposition forces. He also urged that President
In his opening remarks, during which he clashed with Mr Ban over Assad's delegation to “immediately” transfer “total” power to an interim
whether he had exceeded the 20-minute time period allocated to each governing body, as bitter accusations from both sides marred the beginning of
speaker, Mr Muallem said some of the states attending the summit peace talks aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.
had "Syrian blood on their hands". US Foreign Secretary John Kerry had earlier said that President Assad could
Directly addressing the US Foreign Secretary, John Kerry, he have no place in a transitional government. "We see only one option,
also said that only Syrians have the right to remove President negotiating a transition government born by mutual consent," Mr Kerry
Bashar al-Assad. said. "That means that Assad will not be part of that transition
Mr Kerry had earlier said that President Assad could have no government. There is no way, no way possible, that a man who has led a brutal
place in a transitional government. "We see only one option, response to his own people can regain legitimacy to govern."
negotiating a transition government born by mutual consent," Mr The Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said in his
Kerry said. "That means that Assad will not be part of that opening speech that Western states were worsening the situation by arming
transition government. There is no way, no way possible, that a man opposition forces and supporting terrorism in the country, while he accused the
who has led a brutal response to his own people can regain opposition fighters themselves of being traitors.
legitimacy to govern." The below gallery contains very graphic images released by the authors of the report.  We have taken the decision to publish these pictures to inform our readers of the alleged abuses being carried out in Syria
The below gallery contains very graphic images released
by the authors of the report.  We have taken the decision to
publish these pictures to inform our readers of the alleged
abuses being carried out in Syria
Ahmad Jarba, the head of the Syrian National Coalition, demanded In his opening remarks, during which he clashed with Mr Ban over whether he
that Mr Assad be removed from office and accused the regime's had exceeded the 20-minute time period allocated to each speaker, Mr Muallem also
forces of supporting al-Qa'ida on the ground in Syria. He also said some of the states attending the summit had "Syrian blood on their
urged Mr Assad's delegation to transfer power to an interim hands".
governing body. Directly addressing Mr Kerry, he said that only
Diplomats from the world’s most powerful countries have gathered Syrians have the right to remove President Bashar Assad.
for the talks. Around 40 foreign ministers will address the summit At the sidelines of the UN-led talks, Syria's Information Minister told journalists that Mr Assad will not step down.
today ahead of direct Syrian talks, which are due to begin in Diplomats from the world’s most powerful countries have gathered for the
Geneva on Friday. talks. Around 40 foreign ministers will address the summit today ahead of
Mr Ban told delegates that Syrians are responsible for the “ direct Syrian talks, which are due to begin in Geneva on Friday.
formidable” challenge of ending the civil war in their country. Mr Ban told delegates that Syrians are responsible for the “formidable”
He urged the President Assad’s government and the Western-backed challenge of ending the civil war in their country.
opposition fighters to enter into negotiations in good faith as
they meet in person for the first time.
brightcove.createExperiences();brightcove.createExperiences();
“We know that it has been an extremely difficult path to reach He urged President Assad’s government and the Western-backed opposition
this point. We have lost valuable time and many, many lives,” Mr fighters to enter into negotiations in good faith as they meet in person for
Ban said. the first time.
“Let me not mince words, the challenges before you and before “We know that it has been an extremely difficult path to reach this point.
all of us are formidable. But your presence here raises hope,” he We have lost valuable time and many, many lives,” Mr Ban said.
added in his opening speech. “Let me not mince words, the challenges before you and before all of us are
But the Syrian National Coalition, the umbrella group formidable. But your presence here raises hope,” he added in his opening
representing the opposition, is in disarray, with little influence speech.
on rebel brigades fighting in Syria. But the Syrian National Coalition, the umbrella group representing the
Iran, which is one of President Assad's major backers, was opposition, is in disarray, with little influence on rebel brigades fighting in
excluded from the talks on Monday, and has already said the talks Syria.
will fail. Iran, which is one of President Assad's major backers, was excluded from the
The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that President talks on Monday, and has already said the talks will fail.
Hassan Rouhani said that hopes for the talks succeeding are slim “ The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that President Hassan Rouhani
because of the lack of influential players in the meeting.” said that hopes for the talks succeeding are slim “ because of the lack of
influential players in the meeting.”
Additional reporting by APAdditional reporting by AP