Kerry Meets Syria Opposition Leader in Rome

Local Editor

World powers were to hold key talks with the Syrian opposition in Rome on Thursday after Washington suggested it was ready to boost support to rebels.

Ahead of the so-called "Friends of Syria" meeting in the Italian capital, the new US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.
The Rome talks come two days before a meeting of the main opposition so-called "National Coalition" on Saturday in Istanbul.
In Paris as part of a European tour on Wednesday, Kerry made it clear Washington was ready to step up its support for the opposition.

"We are examining and developing ways to accelerate the political transition that the Syrian people seek and deserve, and that is what we will be discussing in Rome," Kerry said.

He said he wanted to hear from opposition leader Khatib about how best to end the violence in Syria.
"I think the opposition needs more help in order to be able to do that and we are working together to have a united position," he said.

Thursday's Rome talks will also provide some measure of whether the opposition is ready to consider any form of talks with regime.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org