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                Kerry Visits Oman Seeking Syria Peace Consensus

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has held talks in Oman on his latest
   stop in a campaign to help arrange an internationally-sponsored Syrian
   peace conference.
   A senior State Department official said that while Oman has not played
   a key role in Syria, it is an "important player" in the region, and
   Kerry wants to hear Sultan Qaboos bin Said`s views.
   Oman is a U.S. ally, but also has close relations with nearby Iran.
   The issue of Iran`s involvement in the proposed Syrian peace conference
   has divided the United States and Russia, the two nations that first
   put forth the idea of holding the talks next month.
   Russia says Iran should take part. The United States has in the past
   objected to Iranian involvement, but says no delegations have yet been
   ruled in or out of the conference. France said last week it does not
   want Iran there.
   European diplomatic sources said Monday that Syrian President Bashar
   al-Assad has named five officials from his administration to attend the
   talks, including Prime Minister Wael al-Halki and various junior
   personnel.
   Syria`s main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, has
   rejected some of the officials on the list because of their lack of
   influence. The SNC plans to announce its decision on whether to attend
   the talks during a meeting Thursday in Turkey.
   Kerry`s visit is to include talks about Oman`s planned $2.1 billion
   purchase of an air defense system from U.S. defense firm Raytheon.
   Kerry will be in Jordan Wednesday for a meeting of the Friends of
   Syria, where nations backing the opposition will discuss the proposed
   peace conference.
   Meanwhile, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and Syrian soldiers renewed
   their offensive Tuesday aimed at driving rebels from the strategic town
   of Qusair. Opposition activists said Tuesday that more elite Hezbollah
   fighters have poured across the border from Lebanon into Syria to take
   part in the assault.
   The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 31
   Hezbollah militiamen have been killed since Sunday in the battle for
   Qusair.
   A senior State Department official briefing reporters in Muscat said
   the fighting in Qusair is the most visible evidence of Hezbollah
   joining the fight. He said commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army
   report that Iranian forces are also involved in the Qusair battle.
   Also Tuesday, the head of Israel`s armed forces warned that Syria`s
   president "will have to bear the consequences" if fire continues
   against Israeli troops across a tense cease-fire line into the occupied
   Golan Heights.
   Lieutenant General Benny Gantz spoke hours after Israeli troops and
   Syrian forces exchanged fire across the line. The incident marked the
   first time the Syrian army has acknowledged firing intentionally at
   Israeli troops since Syria`s civil war erupted more than two years ago.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-visits-oman-seeking-syria-peace
   -consensus/1665551.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-visits-oman-seeking-syria-peace-consensus/1665551.html