PARIS (AA) - As the foreign ministers from 11 countries are preparing to gather with Syrian opposition in London, France ruled out the possibility of Syrian President Bassar al-Assad to take part in the transitonal period.
"France is side with Geneva Conference to be held as soon as possible. But Assad will not play a role in this period," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal told ahead of the key gathering in London.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had told Lebanon's al Mayadeen television that his government would take part in the gathering without preconditions.
"We want the opposition to be united at this conference. It is important that it be united and strong to influence the outcome," French spokesman added.
At the London gathering, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and his counterparts from ten other countries will discuss how to support the Syrian opposition ahead of the conference due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland next month.
Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, more than 100,000 people were killed, over two million people fled the country to seek refuge in other countries, mostly neighboring Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, according to UN figures.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
