US Backs Syrian Rebels' Ultimatum to UN to Keep Iran Out of Talks

The United States has backed an ultimatum by Syrian opposition forces to rescind an invitation to Iran to joint the Geneva II peace talks scheduled for Wednesday unless Tehran publicly accepts that the conference will establish a political process to end the rule of Syrian President Bassar al-Assad.

The peace talks appeared to be over before they were to start following an ultimatum Monday by the  Syrian National Coalition that the invitation be rescinded by Monday night.

"The Syrian Coalition announces that they will withdraw their attendance in Geneva II unless Ban Ki-moon retracts Iran's invitation," it said in a Twitter post.

The coalition said it could accept Iran at the talks only if it were to remove its forces  fighting with  to maintain his control of war-torn country.

Given pre-conditions by Assad and the Opposition concerning a future government, the chances of anything positive coming out of Geneva II are nil.