(Zaman Al Wasl)- Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Bashar Assad to either leave office and make room for a transitional government or be forced out, Israeli officials told an Israeli daily.
According to The Times of Israel, Putin delivered his ultimatum at a meeting between the two in Moscow on October 20, and comes as Russia joins other world powers in setting a timetable for a new Syrian government after nearly five years of bloody conflict.
Senior Israeli officials said Assad received a markedly chilly reception in Moscow.
Putin demanded Assad and his associates to enter negotiations with moderate opposition in Syria on instituting a temporary government that would stay in place for about a year and a half – until general elections can be held, the officials said.
The meeting preceded this week’s talks in Vienna between Arab and Western states on a possible political solution for war-torn Syria.
On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu said al-Assad will not run for office following Syria’s post-conflict transition.
Sinirlioglu told reporters at the closing of the G20 summit in Antalya that Assad will leave office "within the six-month transition period" and a transitional government would assume executive power, Anadolu agency reported.
Regional and world powers, the UN, EU and the Arab League agreed on an UN-mediated cease-fire in Syria with negotiations between the regime and opposition groups to take place by the end of the year.
Elections would be held within 18 months of a six-month transition period.
"An 18-month period is foreseen from the moment that a new government is formed in Syria," Sinirlioglu said. "In this period, a new constitution will be made. In accordance with that constitution, [Syria] will go to new elections."
Syria's conflict began in March 2011 as popular protests against four decades of Assad family rule but changed into armed insurgency under a security force crackdown.
About 300,000 people have been killed and over 12 million forced to flee their homes.
According to The Times of Israel, Putin delivered his ultimatum at a meeting between the two in Moscow on October 20, and comes as Russia joins other world powers in setting a timetable for a new Syrian government after nearly five years of bloody conflict.
Senior Israeli officials said Assad received a markedly chilly reception in Moscow.
Putin demanded Assad and his associates to enter negotiations with moderate opposition in Syria on instituting a temporary government that would stay in place for about a year and a half – until general elections can be held, the officials said.
The meeting preceded this week’s talks in Vienna between Arab and Western states on a possible political solution for war-torn Syria.
On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu said al-Assad will not run for office following Syria’s post-conflict transition.
Sinirlioglu told reporters at the closing of the G20 summit in Antalya that Assad will leave office "within the six-month transition period" and a transitional government would assume executive power, Anadolu agency reported.
Regional and world powers, the UN, EU and the Arab League agreed on an UN-mediated cease-fire in Syria with negotiations between the regime and opposition groups to take place by the end of the year.
Elections would be held within 18 months of a six-month transition period.
"An 18-month period is foreseen from the moment that a new government is formed in Syria," Sinirlioglu said. "In this period, a new constitution will be made. In accordance with that constitution, [Syria] will go to new elections."
Syria's conflict began in March 2011 as popular protests against four decades of Assad family rule but changed into armed insurgency under a security force crackdown.
About 300,000 people have been killed and over 12 million forced to flee their homes.
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