Kerry: Syrian groups still weighing negotiations

October 22, 2013 at 11:10 a.m.

by The Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media at the British Foreign Office in London on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Kerry said negotiations with Assad's government are likely to take place late next month, but would not confirm they have been set for Nov. 23, a date mentioned by other officials.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media at the British Foreign Office in London on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013. Kerry said negotiations with Assad's government are likely to take place late next month, but would not confirm they have been set for Nov. 23, a date mentioned by other officials.

LONDON — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that Syria’s moderate opposition officials are still weighing whether to enter negotiations with President Bashar Assad to create a new government and end the nation’s bloody civil war.

Kerry spoke after meeting Tuesday with opposition leader Ahmad al-Jarba, and said he was hopeful that negotiations could begin as early as next month.

But, Kerry said, al-Jarba’s coalition would decide within the week whether it was ready to meet with Assad’s government on ways to move forward after 2 1/2 years of war that has killed more than 100,000.

Both Kerry and al-Jarba were in London meeting with diplomats from 11 Western and Mideast nations who are trying to reach a settlement.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.


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