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Assad stands in the way of Syria peace: Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of “standing in the way” of peace efforts in Syria.
Kerry, who is in Vienna for Syria talks with Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, said on Friday that Assad's continued presence is the only thing preventing Syria from becoming a “unified, secular and pluralistic” country, according to the Associated Press.
"One thing stands in the way of being able to rapidly move to implement that, and it's a person called Assad - Bashar Assad," he said.
The top US diplomat expressed hope for a political solution to the years-long crisis that has devastated large parts of the Arab country.
"So the issue is, can we get to a political process during which time the future devolution and allocation of power in Syria is properly allocated by the people of Syria? And that's what we're working towards. So my hope is that these talks can begin a process that could open up a greater discussion," he said.
Kerry began a day-long series of meetings in the Austrian capital on Friday, holding meetings with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu, both of whom share the US view that Assad must step down. Kerry plans to travel to Jordan late Friday and then to Saudi Arabia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also slated to join the talks.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also talked with the leaders of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan about Syria.
The meeting in Vienna follows a surprise visit by Assad on Tuesday to Moscow where he and Putin discussed Russia's military operations in Syria that the US and others say are bolstering Assad and not targeting Daesh militants.
Before leaving Berlin for Vienna, Kerry said Thursday that one focus of the talks would be to consider "a broader participation of very necessary countries, all of whom need to be at the table" to discuss the way forward in Syria.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The crisis has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people so far and displaced millions of others.
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