ISTANBUL
Syrian National Council (SNC) member Luey Safi criticized the former president of the Syrian opposition, Moaz Al Khatib for expressing opinion, before approved by the Syrian National Coalition, on letting Syrian leader Bashar Assad a safe-leave if he accepts a "peaceful transition."
Attending the 7th General Assembly of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces held in Istanbul, Safi told AA that he did not approve the attitude of Al Khatib, expressing his opinions publicly without having the approval of Syrian National Coalition and noted that the solutions for Syria must be determined by consensus.
Safi noted that no suggestion to let Assad leave the country if he accepts a "peaceful transition" was raised during the assembly and the Syrian National Coalition did not issue such a decision, saying "The initiative of Al Khatib is his own opinion."
Geneva II talks, the current status in Qusayr town of Syrian western border province Homs that is under attack by Assad forces supported by Hezbolllah militants, and military aid to the opposition forces, the enlargement of the interim government and related election, as Safi told, are high on the agenda of the assembly which is due to end on Saturday.
Safi urged that the Syrian National Coalition supports any international initiative towards transforming the despot regime into a democratic one as long as it includes the condition that Assad must abdicate.
The former president of Syrian National Coalition Moaz Al Khatib stated on Wednesday on his official Facebook account that "If he accepts a "peaceful transition," Assad could go safely to any country with his 500 relatives." On his account, he also demanded Assad to hand over his authorities within 20 days to his deputy Farouk al Sharaa and Premier Wael al-Halqi following the decisions issued at the general assembly of Syrian National Coalition.
Syrian opposition held its 7th general assembly in Istanbul, following the resignation of the President of Syrian National Coalition Moaz Al Khatib, to determine the members of the Syrian Interim Government ahead of the planned Geneva II talks for a political solution to Syrian crisis.
Expecting new members to attend the assembly, the Syrian National Coalition is to reelect a presidency committee of 63 coalition members, a president, 3 deputies and a secretary general.
The names of the SNC member Luey Safi, the former president of Syrian National Coalition Moaz Al Khatib, the interim president George Sabra and the activist Ahmad Saleh Tu'me are among the candidates for the presidency of the Syrian National Coalition.
