Geneva deal paves way for post-Assad Syria

GENEVA/BEIRUT: World powers agreed a Syria transition plan yesterday with a unity government to include members of the present administration, although envoy Kofi Annan said he doubted Syrians would "select people with blood on their hands."
At least 53 people were killed, mostly civilians, in violence across Syria yesterday, and hundreds more were trapped in Douma as regime forces stormed the town in Damascus province, monitors said.
A crunch meeting in Geneva agreed that the transitional government "could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent," Annan said.
Asked what the transition plan spelled for President Bashar Assad, Annan said: "The document makes it clear that we have provided guidelines and principles to assist the Syrian parties as they move ahead with the transition and establish a transition government and go through changes required.
The future of Assad "will be left to them."
Pressed if members from the regime who have engaged in repression would be part of the interim government, he said: "People with blood on their hands are hopefully not the only Syrians.
"I would doubt that Syrians... would select people with blood on their hands to lead them."
The international conference accepted the UN-brokered peace plan for Syria, but left open whether the country's president could be part of the transitional government.
The US backed away from demands that Assad be excluded, hoping the concession would encourage Russia to put greater pressure on its longtime ally to end the violent crackdown that the opposition says has claimed over 14,000 lives.
Moscow had refused to back a provision that would call for Assad to step aside, insisting that outsiders cannot order a political solution for Syria.
Syria envoy Kofi Annan said following talks that "it is for the people of Syria to come to a political agreement."
"I will doubt that the Syrians who have fought so hard to have independence ... will select people with blood on their hands to lead them," he said.
The envoy earlier warned the permanent members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — that if they fail to act at the talks hosted by the United Nations at its European headquarters in Geneva, they face an international crisis of "grave severity" that could spark violence across the region and provide a new front for terrorism.
"History is a somber judge and it will judge us all harshly, if we prove incapable of taking the right path today," he said.
He appeared to specifically aim his words at Russia, Syria's most important ally, protector and arms supplier. The US has been adamant that Assad should not be allowed to remain in power at the top of the transitional government, and there is little chance that the fragmented Syrian opposition would go along with any plan that does not explicitly say Bashar must go.
"While many spoke of united support for one ... some simultaneously took national or collective initiatives of their own, undermining the process. This has fueled uncertainty in Syria, in turn fueling the flames of violence," Annan said.
"By being here today, you suggest the intention to show that leadership. But can you, can we follow through?"
He said that "the way things have been going thus far — we are not helping anyone. Let us break this trend and start being of some use."
Foreign ministers were rushed from luxury sedans into the elegant and sprawling Palais des Nations along with their legions of diplomats and aides and envoys from Europe, Turkey and three Arab countries representing groups within the Arab League.
Russia and China, which has followed Russia's lead on Syria, have twice used their council veto to shield Syria from UN sanctions.
International tensions also heightened last week after Syria shot down a Turkish warplane, leading to Turkey setting up anti-aircraft guns on its border with its neighbor.
Without agreement among the major powers on how to form a transitional government for the country, Assad's regime — Iran's closest ally — would be emboldened to try to remain in power indefinitely, and that would also complicate the US aim of halting Iran's nuclear goals.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged Russia and China to join Western nations in speaking with one voice on Syria, though he acknowledged that will be a stiff challenge.