Opposition Representative: Assad Must Go, Dead or Alive

The representative of the main opposition group to the Syrian President emphasized that Bashar Assad must step down from power, 'dead or alive,' ahead of new efforts to gather the parties involved in the country's civil war. According to Agence France-Presse on March 14, Mohammad Alloush, the senior opposition representative in the negotiation process, stated that they 'believe the transition period must begin with the fall or death of Bashar Assad.' Alloush told AFP, 'This [political transition] will not begin with the regime (the Syrian central government) or its leadership in power.' These statements come at a time when the Damascus government has labeled the removal of Bashar Assad from power as a 'red line.' Walid Moallem, the foreign minister of the central government of Syria, stated, 'We will not negotiate with anyone who wants to discuss the presidency, and Bashar Assad is a red line.' The United Nations has organized a new round of negotiations aimed at ending the internal crisis in Syria. Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy for Syria, mentioned that this round of negotiations will focus on 'forming a new government and a new constitution' as well as 'holding presidential and parliamentary elections within 18 months.' The Syrian foreign minister stated on March 13 that no one has the right to 'comment on the presidential elections.' On the other hand, the opposition has demanded that full executive power be transferred to a transitional government. The new round of negotiations in Syria is set to begin on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland. The last time negotiations took place, Russian airstrikes and ground advances by Assad's forces and their allies interrupted the process.