Syria denies claims of Assad exit

PARIS / BEIRUT

Jordanians and Syrians living in Jordan hold pictures of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and shout slogans against the Syrian Revolution during a demonstration in support of al-Assad, as Syrian refugees protest against al-Assad near the Syrian embassy in Amman July 19, 2012. REUTERS photo

Syria's Information Ministry said on Friday that comments by Russia's ambassador to France that President Bashar al-Assad has accepted leaving power in an orderly way were "completely devoid of truth."
 
The ministry statement, flashed on state television, came in response to remarks by Moscow's envoy to Paris who said that by accepting a recent international declaration which foresaw a transition towards a more democratic Syria, Assad had "accepted to leave, but in an orderly way". 

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is ready to give up power but only in a "civilized manner", Russia's envoy to Paris Alexander Orlov told Radio France International (RFI) in an interview Friday.

Assad had accepted a transition plan agreed by world powers in Geneva and named a representative for talks with the opposition. "That is to say, he is accepting to go - but to go in a civilised manner," Orlov said.

*Compiled from Reuters and AFP by the Daily News Staff.