Syria opposition, regime reject compromise ahead of talks

The Syrian government and rebels held fast on Tuesday to their uncompromising stances towards each other, a day after a date was announced for them to sit down to peace talks in Geneva. The opposition National Coalition repeated its long-standing rejection of President Bashar al-Assad having any role in the country's future, while the regime said it would press on with its war against "terrorism." Meanwhile, a car bomb killed 15 people at a bus stop west of Damascus, state television said. The Coalition said it "affirms its absolute rejection of Assad or any of the criminals responsible for killing the Syrian people playing any role in a transitional body... or in Syria's political future."