Syria's Divided Opposition Begins Unity Talks in Saudi

Representatives from Syria's fragmented opposition began an unprecedented meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, seeking a united front for potential talks with President Bashar Assad's regime.

While not all groups were invited, the two-day, closed-door gathering marks the first time a broad range of Syrian political and armed opposition factions have come together since the conflict began in 2011.

The goal of the meeting, attended by about 100 delegates, is to form a unified bloc for talks with Assad that world powers hope can be held before January 1.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who has repeatedly warned that unless Assad steps down peacefully he could be ousted militarily, attended briefly to welcome the delegates and express hope for a successful conclusion.

The talks held at a heavily secured luxury hotel in Riyadh are chaired by Abdulaziz Sager, a Saudi who heads the independent Gulf Research Center in Geneva.

"The meeting saw a broad participation of Syrian opposition groups inside and outside Syria," the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The first day will focus on political questions, including the general contours of a potential settlement, while Thursday would be dedicated to discussing "terrorism, a ceasefire and reconstruction," said a delegate involved in organizing the meeting.

The head of the Istanbul-based National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, said in a statement that he was "optimistic" that the attendees would reach an agreement over "forming a negotiating team and on the principles of negotiations" with Assad's regime.

Khoja's coalition is the main opposition group, which is represented by about 20 members at the talks.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef met representatives of the armed groups taking part in the talks on Tuesday and told them the kingdom insists on Assad's departure, Syrian opposition sources said.

There has been a growing diplomatic push for a resolution to the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 250,000 people and forced millions from their homes.

- 'Political interlocutor needed' -

Last month, top diplomats from 17 countries, including key backers and opponents of Assad, agreed in Vienna on a fixed calendar that would see a transition government set up in six months and elections within 18 months.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement that the Riyadh talks were an "important component of the process initiated in Vienna" and wished the meeting "full success."

"It is essential for the political and armed opposition, which resists the attacks" by Assad's regime and the Islamic State group to "unite its efforts to form a political interlocutor needed for Syria," he added.

Armed entities described as "terrorist" organizations, such as al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate al-Nusra Front and IS, were not invited to the Riyadh meeting.

But Ahrar al-Sham, allied with al-Nusra and whose invitation had prompted other groups to withdraw from the talks, confirmed its attendance in a statement on Wednesday.

Ahrar al-Sham said that it had accepted the Saudi invitation despite the "lack of representation of jihadist factions at a level matching their... role" on the ground in the war-torn country.

The group warned that it "will not accept the results of this conference" unless they include "cleansing Syrian territories of the Russian-Iranian occupation and sectarian militia supporting them."

Iran and Russia are key backers of Assad's regime. Moscow has been conducting air strikes in Syria for more than two months while Tehran has supplied military assistance including "advisers" on the ground.

Shiite militia from neighboring Iraq and Lebanon are also fighting alongside Assad's troops.

- Kurds excluded -

Ahrar al-Sham, seen as one of the most powerful armed groups in Syria, insisted the priority should be overthrowing Assad's regime, dismantling military and security services, preserving the country's unity, and rejecting sectarianism.

The powerful Saudi-backed Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel force, which includes hardline Islamists, said it was sending two delegates.

Riyadh insists invitations were extended to "all factions of the moderate Syrian opposition" including from all parties, sects and ethnic groups.

But Kurdish organizations, including the recently formed and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which includes Kurds, Arab Sunni Muslims and Christians fighting IS, were not invited.

Kurdish groups, including the leading Democratic Union Party, and other opposition movements have organized their own two-day conference that started on Tuesday in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakeh.