Syria’s main opposition National Coalition on Tuesday insisted that President Bashar al-Assad should play no role in the country’s political future, while hailing the fixing of a date for peace talks.

Syria's main opposition National Coalition on Tuesday insisted that President Bashar al-Assad should play no role in the country's political future, while hailing the fixing of a date for peace talks.

The Coalition in a statement said it "affirms its absolute rejection of President Assad playing any role in a transitional body or in Syria's political future."

The statement came a day after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that peace talks, dubbed Geneva II, would be held on January 22, after several delays.

The Coalition said it considers the fact a date has been set as "very positive."

But it also said that in preparing for Geneva II the international community must "ensure humanitarian supplies reach all areas of Syria, while all prisoners must be set free".

And it called for "an immediate end" to massacres in Syria.

The Geneva II talks, the statement added, must "implement all the provisions of Geneva I", which in June 2012 envisaged the creation a transitional government for Syria.

Several extremist groups in September warned against any negotiation with the Syrian government, and said anyone who did go to such talks would be branded a traitor.