SNC Retracts Remarks Accepting Regime-Led Unity Govt.

The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) will not accept a unity government led by a member of the regime, spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani said Tuesday, contradicting a statement by another SNC member.

"There was never any question of a national unity government led by a member of the regime," Kodmani told Agence France Presse.

"There is of course a question of a transitional government, but of the opposition, not led by a member of the state."

An emailed statement from the SNC also ruled out a unity government led by a member of President Bashar Assad's regime.

Hours earlier another SNC spokesman, George Sabra, had said the council was ready to agree to a transitional government led by a regime member.

"We would agree to the departure of Assad and the transfer of his powers to a regime figure, who would lead a transitional period like what happened in Yemen," Sabra told AFP in Beirut.

The Arab League on Monday called on Assad to swiftly step aside in order to end the fighting that has swept across the country.

"We accept this initiative because the priority today is to put an end to the massacres and protect Syrian civilians, not the trial of Assad," Sabra said.

The Syrian regime has rejected all Arab League calls for a transition plan that would see Assad leave power.

Before the SNC's denial, French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero had welcomed Sabra's statement.

"Anything that can help bring about an end to the violence as quickly as possible... and the formation of a provisional government is a move in the right direction," Valero told a press conference.