The continuation of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule will prevent a proper political solution and lead to inciting further terrorism, according to Syria’s main political opposition.
During a meeting with head of Raqqa’s local council Saad Shawish on Friday, the Syrian National Coalition’s political committee called on countries supporting the Syrian revolution to continue political support to the opposition at the Geneva talks.
Members stressed that a genuine political transition cannot be achieved with Assad holding to power, adding that Assad’s survival will see the return of tyranny, corruption and violence, which in turn risks spawning new forms of terrorism threatening international peace and security.
The committee also called for the opening of humanitarian corridors for civilians trapped inside Raqqa and for the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid. Hundreds of civilians, including children and women, have been killed as a result of the fierce fighting between the Islamic State (ISIS) and the militias of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, which are supported by the United States.
Participants in the meeting discussed the Kurdish Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) decision to prevent civilians fleeing the fighting in Deir-ez-Zor and Raqqa to areas under their control in northeastern Syria. Militias of the PYD are forcing those civilians to live in camps set up out in the open, which activists call "camps of death."
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
