New Syria Opposition Head Rules Out Moscow Talks

The newly elected head of Syria’s opposition in exile National Coalition has said that his group would not attend talks in Russia this month aimed at bringing an end to Syria’s conflict of nearly four years, AFP reports.

“The dialogue with the regime that Moscow is calling for is out of the question,” said Khaled Khoja at a news conference in Istanbul.

“We can’t sit at the same table as the regime … except in a negotiating framework intended to achieve a peaceful transition of power and the formation of a transitional body with full powers,” he added.

Russia, a staunch ally of President Bashar al-Assad, has invited 28 opposition figures to Moscow in an attempt to re-launch talks between regime delegates and members of the fractured opposition.

“It remains unclear whether the coalition will seek to ban those of its members who have been invited from attending the talks in Moscow,”AP reports.

Among those invited to the talks are Hadi al-Bahra, who was succeeded by Khoja on Monday, and two previous coalition chiefs, Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib and Abdel-Basset Seida.

The coalition has been criticized for being out of touch with Syrians on the ground and with the militant groups fighting the Assad regime.

Turkey Will Help Train Moderate Syrian Rebels, Diplomat Says

“Turkey is ready to conclude an agreement this month to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels as part of the American-led effort to combat Islamic State fighters,” a senior Turkish diplomat was quoted as saying by the New York Times on Monday.

“Initially, the training will be for three years, and the current target is to train 15,000 people, 5,000 each year,” said the senior official.

According to the official, the joint training led by U.S. and Turkish military officers will take place in Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Turkish officials claim the rebels will be trained to fight ISIS, as well as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Turkish officials have also called for the proposal to be backed by a no-fly zone and safe zones to curb the large influx of refugees into Turkey.

Kurdish Fighters Claim to Control 80 Percent of Kobani

Kurdish fighters backed by Iraqi Peshmerga forces seized a vital security district and a police headquarters in Kobani following fierce clashes that began on Sunday, the BBC reports.

The fighters now claim to control 80 percent of the town. According to Kobani official Idriss Nassan, ISIS fighters still maintain control of the eastern districts of Maqtala and Kordan.

“Hopefully, within days the (YPG) units will be in control of the whole city,” he said.

Kurdish fighters backed by U.S.-led airstrikes have gradually pushed ISIS back since they launched an attack on Kobani in September.

The U.S. Central Command have conducted eight airstrikes on Kobani since Sunday, destroying 11 ISIS positions.

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