The Syrian government's chief negotiator said President Bashar Assad's future was not up for discussion at peace talks, underlining the bleak prospects for reviving U.N.-led negotiations postponed by the opposition.
Bashar Ja'afari, speaking to Lebanese TV station al Mayadeen, also said his team was pushing for an expanded government as the solution to the war — an idea rejected by the opposition fighting for five years to topple Assad.
Ja'afari was reiterating the Syrian government's position as spelled out last month ahead of the latest round of talks, indicating no shift on the part of Damascus as it continues to enjoy firm military backing from Russia and Iran.