The Syrian political opposition that was formed following the outbreak of the conflict has since been driven out by mercenaries who are fighting for money and for the pledges that they will get power. This came in a statement in an interview with the Voice of Russia by the president of Academy of Geopolitical Problems, General Leonid Ivashov.
He pointed out that it is the armed opposition that stands to gain by killing civilians.
This is what they are told to do by their western sponsors, while a number of Persian Gulf countries are involved are trying to prove the Bashar al-Assad regime’s cruelty by continually raising the civilian death toll, Ivashov said.
He feels that the rebels are thus seeking to discredit al-Assad and make him look repelling to the population.
UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met representatives of the Syrian opposition on Wednesday as he pushed a new peace plan to end the Syrian conflict. The plan specifically stipulates that Bashar Assad will stay in power till 2014, but that he will not take part in the subsequent elections.
Endorsed by Russia and the United States, the proposal got a mixed reaction from Syria’s opposition members.
A national coalition of opposition and revolutionary forces, supported from abroad, demands an immediate resignation of Assad, while the domestic opposition urges a diplomatic solution of the conflict and is up in arms against outside interference.
The Syrian crisis "can only be resolved by political means”, a military solution "will not lead to creation of a democratic state in Syria”.
This was announced by the head of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) Hassan Abdel Azim. The internal opposition leader held talks in Damascus with the UN and the Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
He spoke out for creation of a "transitional government authorized to help Syrians achieve a safe haven”.
At the same time Abdel Azim underscored importance of "mutual understanding between the U.S. and Russia on the "Syrian dossier "and "international consensus”, which, in his opinion, ensures a long-term political process, and will go a long way towards containing the violence.
The United Arab Emirates supports a ‘non-sectarian’ change in power in Syria, the Gulf state's foreign minister said. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan also reiterated his country's support for the mission of UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
The Emirati minister met late Tuesday with the Syrian opposition National Coalition's chief, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE is hosting Syrian President Bashar Assad's only sister, Bushra, whose husband General Assef Shawkat, an army deputy chief of staff, was killed in a July bombing. She is now living in Dubai with her children.
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