Syria Opposition Makes New Push For Transition

Syria’s opposition made a fresh call for a transition to democracy without Syrian president, as France threw its support behind new Russia-us talks aimed at ending the war. The opposition’s proposal during one-day talks in London came as the world’s chemical weapons watchdog said it was “disturbed” by the alleged use of toxic chemicals in the battleground city of Aleppo. French Foreign Minister jean-Marc Ayrault, attending the London talks, said he backed new US-Russia discussions. With prospects for peace elusive, the broad-based opposition high negotiations committee holding talks with its foreign allies in London proposed a six-month negotiating phase with the regime.