France: Assad cannot be part of the solution to the Syria crisis

France said on Monday that it opposes talks with Bashar Al-Assad a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke about the possibility of negotiating with the Syrian president.

In response to Kerry’s comments, the French foreign ministry said talks should include members of the existing regime and the opposition to pave the way for forming one government.

“It is clear that for us Bashar Al-Assad cannot be included within this framework,” the ministry said, citing Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

In response to Kerry’s comments, Al-Assad said: “We are still hearing the declarations and we should wait for actions and then decide.”

“Any talk on the future of the Syrian president is for the Syrian people,” he added.