Presence of Iran-backed forces in Syria thwarts truce - head of opposition delegation at Astana meeting
MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The leader of the Syrian opposition delegation in Astana and one of the leaders of the Jaysh al-Islam group, Mohammed Alloush, has demanded a withdrawal from Syria of all paramilitary forces supported by Iran and stressed that the political process will begin with the departure of Bashar al-Assad and Iran.
He said that "the continuing presence of Iran-sponsored forces fighting alongside the regime thwarts any chance of achieving ceasefire in Syria," the moderate opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA), whose 11 factions are participating in talks in Astana, said on its website on Monday.
Alloush's demand to withdraw from Syria extends to Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian Lebanese Shia group, the Iraqi militia and Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, FSA said.
"The political process will begin with the departure of Bashar Al-Assad, Iran, its forces and formations," the opposition delegation chief said.
Syrian opposition representatives arrived in Astana "not to discuss the division of power issue but to restore safety in Syria and secure the release of prisoners," he said.
"The presence of Iran-backed forces fighting alongside the regime is exacerbating the bloodshed in Syria," Alloush said.
The Syrian opposition delegation in Astana includes representatives from FSA factions from Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Damascus and Daraa.
