Syrian opposition to shun peace talks unless Assad exit is goal

Ahmad Jarba (L), head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, is seen reflected in a mirror as he attends a news conference about chemical weapons in New York, September 27, 2013. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian opposition chief Ahmad Jarba will tell Western and Arab allies on Tuesday the group will not attend peace talks unless the goal is to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power.

Jarba will say the opposition risks losing credibility if it yields to international pressure to attend talks that do not aim at Assad's removal, according to a text of the speech he will make to a "Friends of Syria" meeting in London, seen by Reuters,