Key rebel group pulls out of opposition talks

Ahrar Al Sham complains fundamental role given to groups linked to regime

One of Syria’s main rebel groups, Ahrar Al Sham, yesterday pulled out of opposition talks aimed at forging a united front ahead of potential discussions with President Bashar Al Assad’s regime.

It said it took the decision because of “the fundamental role... given to personalities linked to the regime” at the conference in Riyadh.

It named the Syria-based National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, which is generally tolerated by the regime and participated in talks organised by Moscow on the conflict in 2014 and 2015.

Allied with the Al Qaida Al Nusra Front, Ahrar Al Sham said it “rejects the outcomes” of the meeting which “did not affirm the identity of our Muslim people” in Syria.

Ahrar Al Sham had agreed to attend the Riyadh talks despite the “lack of representation of Islamist militant factions at a level matching their... role” on the ground in Syria.

But the group had warned it “will not accept the results of this conference” unless they include “cleansing Syrian territories of the Russian-Iranian occupation and sectarian militia supporting them.”

Russia has been conducting air strikes in support of Al Assad for more than two months, while Iran has provided military assistance.

Shiite militia from neighbouring Iraq and Lebanon are also fighting alongside Al Assad’s troops.

Ahrar Al Sham had insisted the priority should be overthrowing the regime, preserving Syria’s unity and rejecting sectarianism.

A source in the National Coalition, the main opposition group which is based in Istanbul, said yesterday that the delegates had agreed on a set of basic principles, including ensuring Syria is a “pluralist and civil state” and guaranteeing the country’s territorial integrity.

The source, whose information was confirmed by a second opposition figure, said delegates also agreed on “the preservation of state structures, the restructuring of military and security bodies, and the rejection of terrorism and the presence of foreign combatants”.

The dismantling of Assad’s military and security services is among the key demands of Ahrar Al Sham.

Talks yesterday focused on which segments of the group would represent them during talks with the Syrian regime slated for January.

Russia, the US and the United Nations will hold three-way talks in Geneva today as part of their preparations for a new round of talks in Vienna following meetings that brought both Saudi Arabia and Iran to the table for the first time.