RIYADH: Most Syrian opposition groups meeting in Riyadh to unify their ranks want peace talks to take place without Syrian President Bashar Assad, said Syrian ex-Premier Riad Hijab, who was appointed general coordinator of the Supreme Organization of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition. He spoke Friday to reporters here.

His comments came a few hours before strategic talks started in New York between the US, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and major European and Arab powers to work out a deal to end the nearly five-year-old war.

“Assad staying in the negotiations is totally unacceptable,” Hijab said, and added that he should be court-martialed for his crimes.

Hijab said that his organization does not want Russian interference in Syrian affairs. “Syria now suffers from injustice, especially the massacre of Syrian citizens by Russians.”

“We have chalked out a strategy based on goodwill and peace,” he said. Its activities would be streamlined through various committees to deal with legal and publicity issues, he said.

Hijab said negotiations would have to begin within a period of six weeks when the green light is given by United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

Hijab wants the talks to be based on the Geneva 1 agreements and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118 which means the formation of a transitional government with full executive powers. “We are going into negotiations on this principle, we are not entering talks (based on) anything else. There will be no concession,” he said.

“Goodwill and confidence-building measures should be adhered to by a partner in a political settlement which include releasing detained people, including women and children, lifting the siege on cities and towns that suffer hunger, oppression and bombardment in various parts of Syria and entering of humanitarian aid,” he said.

He said the Syrian opposition had sent a letter to De Mistura regarding the negotiation procedures and the delegation for the process. “We have received a message from the UN envoy regarding that. Our first option is the peaceful approach and we will continue to choose other options until we topple Assad’s regime,” he said.

He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, second deputy premier and defense minister, for their support.

Answering a question about the stand of the French government, former Syrian ambassador to Paris, Munzer Makhous, said France would continue to do its best for the Syrian people.

The conflict in Syria has seen more than 250,000 people killed, prompted the exodus of millions, and promoted the rise of Daesh, also known as the Islamic State.