Syrian Opposition Presents Plan For Political Settlement

The Syrian opposition has presented its plan for a political settlement of the three-year-old conflict in the country.

The plan was presented to UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi and the Syrian government delegation at a joint session held at peace talks in Geneva.

Reuters, which obtained the classified document, says it calls for a transitional governing body to be set up that would oversee a total cease-fire under UN monitoring.

Syrian state media said the government delegation insisted that negotiations must focus first on fighting "terrorism" before any other issue was discussed.

Meanwhile, activists said Syrian government planes on February 12 were bombing a rebel-held town near the border with Lebanon amid heavy clashes between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels fighting to overthrow his regime.

Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and ITAR-TASS