Syria crisis: Assad insists talks must 'combat terrorism'

Syria's President Assad has told the AFP news agency that any outcome of planned peace talks in Switzerland would be "worthless" if they did not "combat terrorism".

Mr Assad has regularly referred to opposition groups as 'terrorists' and claims that he will be representing the Syrian people at the so-called Geneva II talks on Wednesday.

The main political opposition group, the National Coalition - which only agreed to join the talks on Friday - has threatened to withdraw from the conference, after UN chief Ban Ki-moon invited Iran to the talks.