Brahimi meets Syrian opposition leaders

Leading opposition members have met with international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in Damascus, as he works to broker an international solution for the war-torn country. The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria said the opposition leaders had given Brahimi a good hearing. The body’s General Coordinator Hassan Abdul Azim said: “We listened to him talking about his efforts to gain an international agreement and especially a Russian-American agreement for a solution, emphasising a moderate line to stop the violence, and ending the Syrian crisis”. Earlier, Brahimi held talks with Syrian President Bashar al Assad although no progress was announced. The country’s Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi outlined the government’s position at a press conference: “All those who reject arms, who surrender and agree the Syrian state and law, welcome back to Syria. But with regard to the foreign elements, they will face sanctions and possible arrest.” Elsewhere, Israel has raised doubts about the accuracy of reports that chemical weapons have been used by government forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published activistis’ claims of a gas attack in Homs, in which chemical weapons were purportedly used.