Opposition leaders are voicing misgivings over the new effort endorsed by the Security Council, not least because it does not address
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Scourge of Qusayr...
's future, a point of contention between states on either side of the war.
Friday's statement by prominent rebel groups that support the idea of a political solution follows a meeting this week between a new opposition council and U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura, who aims to start negotiations on Jan. 25 in Geneva.
Opposition leaders told de Mistura the government must take goodwill steps before any negotiations, by halting bombardments of civilian areas, lifting blockades of rebel-held territory and releasing detainees. They are waiting to hear back from him.
The opposition council, set up to steer negotiations on the opposition side, was facing "international and U.N. pressure ... to offer concessions that will prolong the suffering of our people and the spilling of their blood", the rebels said.