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                    Assad: Departure 'Not Up For Discussion'

   Syria`s president says he has no intention of stepping down.
   President Bashar al-Assad, speaking to Russian lawmakers Sunday, said
   "if we had wanted to surrender, we would have surrendered from the
   start."
   The president said the issue is "not up for discussion."
   Mr. Assad`s remarks come just days ahead of internationally sponsored
   peace talks in Switzerland between Syria`s government and the
   opposition.
   The talks will be held on January 22 in Geneva.
   The main Syrian political opposition group voted Saturday to attend the
   talks.
   Many opposition leaders have refused to attend without a prior
   commitment that President Assad would step down.
   The Syrian government considers all rebel forces to be terrorists, and
   has tried to shift the focus of the peace talks from forming a new
   government to fighting extremism.
   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned the Syrian president Friday
   the United States is not out of options to pressure his government to
   comply with the goals set in earlier talks in Geneva.
   Meanwhile, the government in Damascus says it has given Russia a plan
   for a cease-fire in Syria`s largest city of Aleppo and an exchange of
   prisoners with Syrian rebels.
   Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said during a visit to Moscow
   Friday he had turned over the proposals in preparation for peace talks
   with the rebels.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/assad-departure-not-up-for-discussion
   /1833132.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/assad-departure-not-up-for-discussion/1833132.html