Syrian opposition agrees to hold talks with Assad regime

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Syrian opposition groups agreed late on Thursday to establish a Riyadh-based negotiation committee, saying that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his clique should not be a part of the expected transitional stage.

At the end of talks hosted by Riyadh for Syrian opposition groups, participants said the committee will assign a delegation to negotiate with the Assad regime.

Saudi Arabia hosted a three-day meeting of “moderate” Syrian opposition figures in hopes of forging a unified stance on how to end the ongoing conflict in war-torn Syria.

The meeting, which kicked off Tuesday in Riyadh, brought together more than 100 opposition figures.

At least 250,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in early 2011, according to UN figures.