Iran says Assad is willing to talk with opposition

A senior Iranian official has met President Bashar al Assad and claims the Syrian leader is willing to meet opposition representatives to end the crisis.

Iran which is Assad’s main backer, is trying to diffuse the growing pressure for outside intervention to stop the bloodshed.

The Iranian envoy announced his country was willing to host the talks.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi said the acceptance by the Syrian government was a positive sign. He added: “if the opposition, the armed opposition and the countries that are supporting it can accept it then a dialogue can begin.”

Iran accuses the West and several Arab states of fuelling the conflict by arming activists.

The diplomatic initiative comes as some of the victims of an apparent mass-killing in Daraya were buried.

Opposition activists accuse the Syrian regime of killing more than 300 people in the Sunni Muslim town although Syrian forces blame terrorists.

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