Rebels’ acts may have cemented Assad’s place in Syria

Violent extremists seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may instead have hurt negotiations to replace him, frustrating Western diplomats who continue to push for his ouster as a necessary part of a peace agreement in the Mideast nation’s bloody civil war. Bolstered by infighting among Syrian opposition groups - including some linked to Al Qaeda that have jeopardized foreign aid - US officials say Assad has a stronger grasp on power now than he did just months ago, when the US and Russia called for a new round of talks to settle the 2 1/2-year war that has killed more than 100,000 people. Still, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Assad’s recent gains do not assure his future in a new government. How to persuade Assad to step down will be part of the focus on Tuesday at a London meeting of 11 nations from the West and Mideast seeking a negotiated settlement to the war. Kerry on Tuesday morning met with the head of the Syrian opposition coalition, Ahmad al-Jarba, during what the top US diplomat called ‘a very important time.’ ‘We have a lot to discuss,’ Kerry told al-Jarba as the 45-minute private meeting got underway at the US ambassador’s residence in London.