French President Francois Hollande (R) welcomes Syrian opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib (C) prior a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on November 17, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD |
PARIS:
Syria's new opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib met Saturday with French
President Francois Hollande for talks on protection of "liberated"
zones, refugees and the formation of a provisional government for the war-torn
state.
Hollande
and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met Khatib and his two deputies in the
Elysee palace for talks that come just four days after France became the first
Western country to recognise the newly-formed National Coalition as the sole
representative of the Syrian people.
Elysee
aides said the talks would centre on "ways and means to assure the
protection of liberated zones, humanitarian aid for refugees and the
constitution of a provisional government".
Hollande
and Khatib were due to make a statement to the press after the meeting.
Khatib and
his deputies on Friday met in London with British Foreign Secretary William
Hague, who indicated he would decide within days whether to officially
recognise the new Syrian opposition.
Hague said
he had pressed Khatib and his two deputies, who are on their first visit to a
Western capital since a united Syrian opposition was formed last weekend, on
the need to be inclusive and respect human rights.
France,
Turkey and the Gulf states have so far granted official recognition to the new
Syrian grouping, and Hague said Britain was inclined to follow suit.
More than
39,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's
regime erupted 20 months ago, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights.
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