DHAKA: The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, has said he is open to peace talks but insisted that they would not go ahead unless foreign nations stopped supporting rebel fighters.

The comments came during a meeting on Wednesday with peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in Damascus, reports Al Jazeera.

‘The Syrian people are the only ones who have the right to decide on Syria’s future, and any solution or agreement must have the acceptance of the Syrian people, and reflect their desires,’ Assad told Brahimi.

The meeting came as part of a regional tour aimed at garnering support for a US-Russian peace initiative for Syria planned next month in Geneva.

Assad also warned there must not be ‘any foreign intervention’ in seeking a solution to Syria`s civil war, in which an estimated 115,000 people have died in 31 months.

‘Putting an end to support for the terrorists and pressuring the states that support them is the most important step to prepare... for dialogue,’ Assad said.

Since the start of an anti-Assad revolt in March 2011, Damascus has systematically branded the uprising-turned-rebellion as a foreign-backed plot.

‘The success of any political solution is linked to putting an end to support funnelled to terrorist groups,’ he added.

BDST: 1323 HRS, OCT 31, 2013
RoR/RK