Assads fate left open after Syria talks

An international conference accepted a UN-brokered peace plan for Syria

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An international conference accepted a UN-brokered peace plan for Syria,but left open whether the countrys president could be part of a transitional government.

The US backed away from demands that President Bashar Assad be excluded,hoping the concession would encourage Russia to put greater pressure on its longtime ally to end the violent crackdown that the opposition says has claimed over 14,000 lives.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted that Assad would still have to go,saying it is now incumbent on Russia and China to show Assad the writing on the wall. Moscow had refused to back a provision that would call for Assad to step aside,insisting that outsiders cannot order a political solution for Syria.

Syria envoy Kofi Annan,following talks,said it is for the people of Syria to come to a political agreement. I will doubt that the Syrians who have fought so hard to have independence8230; will select people with blood on their hands to lead them.

The envoy warned the permanent members of the UN Security Council Britain,China,France,Russia and the United States that if they fail to act at the talks hosted by the United Nations at its European headquarters in Geneva,they face an international crisis of grave severity that could spark violence across the region and provide a new front for terrorism.

He appeared to specifically aim his words at Russia,Syrias most important ally,protector and arms supplier. The US has been adamant that Assad should not be allowed to remain in power at the top of the transitional government,and there is little chance that the fragmented Syrian opposition would go along with any plan that does not explicitly say Bashar must go.

Russia and China,which has followed Russias lead on Syria,have twice used their council veto to shield Syria from UN sanctions.

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The foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia,the United States,China,France and Britain attended Saturdays talks along with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,Turkey,Kuwait,Qatar,Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby and others.

Major regional players Iran and Saudi Arabia were not invited.

No letup in Syrian violence
DOUMA: The Syrian army rained mortar fire on pro-opposition areas in Deir al-Zor,Homs,Idlib and the outskirts of Damascus on Saturday,activists said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 16 people were killed. Syrias border with Turkey was also tense following a Turkish military build-up in response to Syrias shooting down of a Turkish warplane last week.

Reuters