Syria's deputy foreign minister dismissed Tuesday the idea of a "transitional period" in his country, signaling the government's rejection of a political transition sought by Western powers to end a protracted conflict. The comments by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad during an official visit to Tehran were reported by the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV. "We are talking about a national dialogue in Syria and an expanded government and a constitutional process. We are not at all talking about what is called a transitional period," Mekdad was quoted as saying.
