Merkel, Monti urge Syrian opposition to prepare take power

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Wednesday called on the Syrian opposition to prepare to take over power in the country. ‘The Syrian opposition should prepare to take responsibility’, Merkel said following a meeting with Mario Monti. The Italian Prime Minister added that Italy is very concerned about the situation in Syria and emphasized that he agrees with Merkel on the issue of Syrian peace resolution. Since it began with demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March 2011, the Syrian conflict has escalated into a full-scale civil war that has claimed up to 20,000 lives, according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups.