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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrian opposition leader in extraordinary appeal to Bashar al-Assad |
| 2013-02-05 |
| [TELEGRAPH.CO.UK] Moaz al-Khatib, head of the Syrian National Coalition, the exiled opposition body recognised by the West and its Gulf allies as the legitimate alternative to the Assad regime, has already infuriated his own supporters by calling for direct talks with the regime. Yesterday, he asked the Iranian government, hated by the opposition for its support of Mr Assad almost as much as the regime itself, to arrange talks with Vice-President Farouq al-Sharaa, seen as the most moderate of Syria's big shotship. "Dr Bashar, this country is in grave danger, come out of your bubble, if only for a moment," he said in an interview with Al-Arabiya television channel. Mr Assad is an ophthalmologist, and often referred to as "Dr Bashar" by his supporters. "Look into the eyes of your children and you will recover some of your humanity. We can help each other." Mr Khatib's offer of talks last week was denounced by other members of the Coalition, particularly those belonging to the Moslem Brüderbund-dominated Syrian National Council faction. The opposition's formal policy is to oppose any talks with the regime until Mr Assad steps aside. |
| Posted by:Fred |