Syria's president says his departure is not up for discussion at Geneva talks

Bashar al-Assaid reportedly told visiting Russian MPs in Damascus that his future would be decided solely by elections Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, has indicated that he has no intention of stepping down and insisted his departure will not be up for discussion at this week's long-awaited peace talks, which are designed to find a way out of the country's bloody crisis. Low expectations for