Peace plan for Syria includes call for Assad to step down and exit country

Former Syrian opposition National Coalition president Moaz al-Khatib yesterday called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down and leave the country as fighting between pro-government forces and rebels continued in the besieged Syrian town of Qusayr.

Mr Khatib put forward a 16-point peace plan ahead of the opening of a three-day coalition meeting in Istanbul where delegates are due to discuss the proposed US-Russia sponsored international conference, election of a new president and formation of a provisional government.

The plan calls for Mr Assad to dissolve parliament and hand over power to vice-president Farouk al-Sharaa or prime minister Wael al-Halqi.

No guarantee
Mr Assad would leave the country with 500 associates and their families but without legal guarantees.

The temporary president would assume both executive and legislative powers and would work with the current government to restructure the security apparatus and military.

Political prisoners and detainees would be freed, international agencies given freedom of action throughout Syria, and the UN would appoint an envoy to oversee transition.

All parties to the conflict would stop using heavy weapons. Soldiers and fighters involved in “legal military action” would be pardoned but perpetrators of war crimes would be prosecuted.

A transitional government would be formed to assume power 100 days after the interim period began.

Mr Khatib’s proposal has pre-empted debate at the gathering of the divided expatriate opposition and may have strengthened his bid for re-election to the presidency. There are several nominees for the post, including temporary president George Sabra.

A respected preacher at the Omayyad mosque in Damascus, Mr Khatib is one of the few exiles to command a constituency in Syria itself.

Before leaving a year ago, he was associated with the domestic opposition group, Building the Syrian State, led by Louay Hussein.

While provisional prime minister designate Ghassan Hitto, an unknown Muslim Brotherhood affiliate from Texas, was slated to name his cabinet, he could be dropped and a new candidate chosen.

Dissolve parliament
Although Mr Assad has rejected calls to stand down, the plan gives him a role in the transition. He would have 20 days to accept its terms and transfer executive power, and 30 days to dissolve parliament.

He has repeatedly said he could run again in next year’s presidential election and accept the verdict of voters.

Meanwhile, Syrian and Lebanese Hizbullah forces continue to assault the northern rebel stronghold in the strategic Syrian town of Qusayr, as 11 foreign ministers belonging to the Friends of Syria grouping urged Iran and Hizbullah to withdraw fighters from Syria and called their involvement a threat to regional stability.