Syria's opposition National Coalition Wednesday said it welcomed the US-Russian plan to hold a Syria peace conference in Geneva. In a statement released in Istanbul after days of inconclusive meetings of the fractious umbrella group, the coalition said it would be willing to take part in the Geneva talks provided the international community commits to ensuring President Bashar al-Assad's departure, spokesperson Bayan Khatib confirmed to dpa. The statement added that "the international community and the Friends of Syria, in particular, must uphold their commitments to the Syrian people and revolution by ensuring their right to self-defense."
