Rebel Demands and Saudi Decision on US Relations Put Syria Peace Talks in Jeopardy

Opposition are demanding Assad be removed from power and Saudi Arabia says it will no longer work with the U.S. on Syria

(Reuters)—Plans for talks to end the fighting in Syria were in jeopardy on Tuesday after the opposition refused to attend unless President Bashar al-Assad is forced from power and a furious Saudi Arabia made clear it would no longer co-operate with the United States over the civil war.

Western nations and their Middle Eastern allies pressed Syria's fractured opposition to join the proposed peace talks, although Assad has indicated he will not bow to opposition demands that he should step down as a pre-condition.