Syrian Dep. PM never offered to negotiate Assad’s exit

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil was widely misquoted as saying in Moscow Tuesday that his government as offering to discuss Assad’s resignation in talks with the opposition. What he said was this: 1) If Assad’s ouster was a precondition for talks, they would not take place, and b) Both sides would be free to put all their issues on the table for their opposite numbers to accept or reject.  This one would be rejected.