Assad says "he could consider" stepping down as Syria President

Assad says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is prepared to negotiate on "everything" in proposed peace talks with rebels later this month, despite the shakiness of the current ceasefire, The Independent reports.

Talks brokered by Syrian ally Russia and rebel supporting Turkey are supposed to take place in Kazakhstan before the end of January, but last week opposition groups said they had frozen the process in light of continued government strikes across the country.

In comments made to French media published on Monday, January 9, Assad said that the nationwide truce had been violated by rebels several times. He also defended the army's push to recapture Wadi Barada, a rebel-held valley near Damascus where the main water supply to the capital has been turned off.

There has been disagreement between the government and the rebels of the umbrella group known as the Free Syrian Army over whether certain factions in Wadi Barada - some with al-Qaeda or other extremist links - are part of the truce.

Asked if he would be willing to step down as president - a demand the rebels have insisted on throughout the conflict - Assad said "yes, but my position is linked to the constitution."

"If [the opposition] want to discuss this point they must discuss the constitution," he said. Any constitutional matters must be put to a referendum and the people would elect any president, he added.

Assad's position in the war has been significantly bolstered following the recapture of the northern city of Aleppo last month, which was the last rebel urban stronghold in the country.

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