London (CNN) -- Syrian opposition leaders and the "Friends of Syria" group agree that planned peace talks in Geneva will aim to bring about a democratic transition for Syria in which President Bashar al-Assad plays no part, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday. "We are clear that Syrian President Assad has no role in a peaceful and democratic Syria," he said. Hague's words followed a Friends of Syria meeting that brought together foreign ministers from 11 core countries including the United States, Britain, France, Turkey and Gulf nations and Syrian opposition leaders. It was aimed at bolstering the prospects for the peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland. They are expected to take place late next month, although no firm date has been set.
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NEW: Syrian opposition leader says opposition groups will meet to decide on their approach
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Kerry: Syrian opposition is not calling for al-Assad to go before it will join talks
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William Hague: "President Assad has no role in a peaceful and democratic Syria"
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Peace talks are due to take place in late November in Geneva, Switzerland
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Hague said the London meeting had been "important and productive," held against a backdrop of "the Syrian regime's escalating use of indiscriminate and disproportionate force against the people of @placeholder."
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"@placeholder offers the Syrian people the best hope to improve their lives," he said.
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International weapons inspectors have in the past month entered @placeholder to begin verifying and destroying its chemical weapons arsenal.
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@placeholder acknowledged progress toward removing al-Assad's chemical weapons, but he said that "does not remove the crisis and it does not remove the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding before the world's eyes."
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He also stressed that no meeting could be held without a "convincing opposition that represents @placeholder's opposition population."