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Source: Western countries will insist on Assad’s resignation at Vienna talks

Western countries also plan to raise the issue of ceasing fire in Syria, including the operation of Russian Aerospace Forces
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

VIENNA, October 30. /TASS/. US and its allies will insist on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation and discuss details of forming a transitional government at the multilateral meeting on Syria in Vienna, a source from one of Western delegations told TASS on Friday.

"We think that Assad has no place in Syria’s future, and it is necessary to talk about transitional government," the source said.

He added that representatives of Western countries also plan to raise the issue of ceasing fire in Syria, including the operation of Russian Aerospace Forces. "We hope for this and think that it is hard for Russia to carry out the operation, especially in the conditions of sanctions," he noted.

The broad ministerial meeting on Syria on Friday brings together representatives of 13 countries - Russia, US, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Germany, France, Egypt, Italy and Great Britain. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also takes part in the meeting.

Next round of Syria talks set for Nov 3-4

According to the source the new round of multilateral consultations on the Syrian conflict resolution can be held on November 3-4.

"A group of countries keeps insisting on the need to hold new talks next week, on November 3-4," the source said adding that representatives of Damascus and the Syrian opposition could join the talks.

He said the US was one of the countries insisting on consultations in early November. The source said US Secretary of State John Kerry who sets off from Vienna on a Central Asian tour later on Friday could return to the Austrian capital on November 3.

A source at the Austrian Foreign Ministry told TASS that preparations for a new round of talks in Vienna were under way.