Putin told Kerry that Assad can’t be barred as a presidential candidate and he would win if he runs, two people familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic matters, Bloomberg has learned.
While Kerry didn’t agree, the US is already pushing to set the terms of the 2017 ballot in ways that would reduce Assad’s chances of victory -- contradicting the Obama administration’s repeated calls for the Syrian leader to leave office.
The US position remains that “Assad must go” because he’s lost the moral credibility to govern his country, said State Department spokesman Eddie Vasquez, when asked if the Obama administration could envisage the Syrian leader competing in an election.
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