Syria's Assad Dismisses Kerry Remarks on Negotiations

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismissed on Monday remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Assad should be included in negotiations to reach a political transition, saying "declarations from outside do not concern us." Assad said in comments broadcast on Syrian state television, "We are still hearing the declarations and we should wait for actions and then decide." In a Sunday CBS interview, Kerry did not repeat the standard U.S. line that Assad had lost all legitimacy and had to go. Kerry said when asked whether the United States would be willing to negotiate with Assad, "We have to negotiate in the end." Kerry said the United States and other countries, which he did not name, were exploring ways to reignite the diplomatic process to end the conflict in Syria, which has left more than 200,000 dead.