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Syrian opposition chief renews dialogue offer

04 February 2013 19:07 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The leader of Syria's main opposition group is calling on President Bashar Assad to respond to his call for dialogue to save the country.

Mouaz al-Khatib says he is extending his hand "to facilitate the peaceful departure" of the regime, APA reports quoting Associated Press.

Al-Khatib has said he is willing to talk to the regime if that would help end the bloodshed. His offer marked a departure from the mainstream opposition's narrative insisting that Assad step down before any talks.

He renewed his offer Monday in an interview with the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera and said he was placing the ball in Assad's court. He urged Assad to begin releasing tens of thousands of political detainees as a precondition for talks.

Al-Khatib met separately with Russian, U.S. and Iranian officials over the weekend.