Khaled Khoja

Emboldened by recent advances thanks to a more "coordinated" military assistance from regional allies, Syrian rebels have asked for the support of the United States to set up safe zones before the Bashar al-Assad regime collapses.

The newly elected head of Syria's key opposition National Coalition on Monday ruled out taking part in a Russian-led bid for new talks to end the Syrian conflict.
     
Khaled Khoja, who was elected early on Monday to head the opposition grouping, said Moscow's proposal was impossible.
     

Syria's Western-backed political opposition group, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, has elected a new presidential committee and a president widely seen as not tied to any of the body's international sponsors.