The newly-picked head of Syria's opposition has declared the coalition would not participate in the upcoming Russian-led talks aimed at resolving the nation’s persisting crisis.
Khaled Khoja made the announcement on Monday while speaking in Turkey’s major city of Istanbul just hours after he was assigned as the newest head of the Syrian National Coalition, an umbrella of Western-backed opposition groups based in the Turkish city.
Russia is planning to launch the talks intended to bring an end to Syria’s raging militancy war.
The Moscow-sponsored talks are planned for later this month and will include discussions between the Syrian warring sides.
Russia has reportedly invited 28 opposition figures, including members of opposition groups based in Syria.
Among the invitees are Hadi al-Bahra, whom Khoja succeeded on Monday, and two other previous coalition heads, namely Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib and Abdel-Basset Seida.
It remains to be seen whether the coalition will seek to prohibit those of its members invited to Moscow from attending the talks.
Khatib paid a visit to Russia last year for discussions on ways to resolve the Syria turmoil and has recently established his own movement, though he remains a coalition member.
This is while the Moscow-initiated talks enjoy the backing of the government in Damascus.
Syria has been grappling with a deadly conflict since March 2011. The violence fueled by groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to reports.
