Syria's political opposition says rejects transitional role for Assad

Syria's foreign-based political opposition on Friday rejected any role for Bashar al-Assad in a transitional government, after Western powers appeared to soften their stance towards the Syrian president. Diplomatic moves on Syria have been overtaken by an escalation of the war on the ground, after Russia launched air strikes inside Syria in support of its ally Assad this week. British Prime Minister David Cameron was quoted last week as saying Assad could stay on as part of a transitional govern