Syrian opposition leader urges Assad to respond to dialogue initiative

Key Words: Assad; Syria; Syria crisis

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DAMASCUS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Head of the main Syrian opposition coalition in exile, Moaz al-Khatib, said Monday that President Bashar al-Assad has to take a clear stance toward his calls for dialogue "for the interest of the Syrian people" and for the " peaceful departure of the regime."

Quoted by al-Jazeera TV, al-Khatib said "the regime must take a clear stance (on dialogue) and we say we will extend our hand for the interest of people and to help the regime leave peacefully."

"The ball is now in the regime's court. They will either say yes or no," he said.

Al-Khatib's recent remarks are the third one to be made in the same regard after he made surprising statements last week saying that he accepted dialoguing representatives of the Syrian administration on condition of releasing detainees and renewing traveling documents for opposition abroad.

The Syrian government has made no official response to al- Khatib's recent remarks, as many opposition figures abroad expressed dismay about al-Khatib's calls, saying they won't accept dialoguing with the Assad's leadership and will accept nothing but the ouster of Assad.

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