Assad cannot be part of Syria's new government: Kerry

ROME: US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Thursday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cannot be part of a transitional government in Syria.

Speaking before talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Kerry said all sides were working to "effect a transition government by mutual consent of both sides, which clearly means that in our judgement President Assad will not be a component of that transitional government."