A source within Syria's main opposition bloc on Wednesday denied reports that his coalition had been told by Western nations that next month's scheduled peace talks would not lead to the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"We haven't received any messages from Western nations to this effect," the source, who is a member of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces' political office, told Anadolu Agency.
Reuters news agency had earlier quoted coalition sources as saying that Western nations had told them that al-Assad would not step down following next month's peace talks in Geneva and that his Alawite minority would remain a key part of any transitional administration.
The political office is the coalition's main decision-making body. It includes the head of the coalition, his three deputies and 20 other senior coalition figures.
The source expressed astonishment at the Reuters report, saying the coalition had received assurances from the US administration on Tuesday that al-Assad – along with members of his regime – had "no place" in Syria's political future.
Al-Assad's fate remains a highly divisive issue for the Syrian opposition, which agreed to take part in the upcoming Geneva II gathering provided that al-Assad leaves power. The opposition also wants the Syrian president to delegate his authority to a transitional government.
The Al-Assad regime, for its part, says it will attend the gathering as a representative of the Syrian people, refusing to countenance the notion of Al-Assad's departure.
Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi stated earlier this month that al-Assad would remain the country's president.
Al-Assad, al-Zoubi told Syria's official SANA news agency, would even lead the political transition in the event that agreement is reached in Geneva.
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