Brahimi denies remarks on Syrian leader's future role

Visiting UN-Arab Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi on Tuesday dismissed previously reported statements on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's role in the transitional stage in Syria. He was quoted by Syria's official news agency (SANA) as saying that reports carried by some Arab and international newspapers on the Syrian president's role in the transitional stage are totally baseless. Brahimi had been quoted by a French magazine as saying that al-Assad could play a part in a future transitional stage in Syria, but he should not lead it. Brahimi, in the meantime, said he was seeking preparations for the Geneva II Conference on Syria in order to define the features of the transitional stage in Syria. Meanwhile, the UN-Arab envoy met Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem on efforts for holding the international conference on Syria in Geneva. During the meeting, the Syrian minister said his government could partake in the conference just out of the Syrian people's right to outline their future. But, he reiterated opposition to foreign interference in his country's internal affairs, claiming that dialogue in Geneva would be among Syrians and under Syrian leadership