Qatar stressed it has had no direct or indirect contact with the Syrian government, foreign ministry said late Tuesday.

Qatar stressed it has had no direct or indirect contact with the Syrian government, foreign ministry said late Tuesday.

“Qatar does not have any direct or indirect contacts with the Syrian regime,” the ministry said in a statement.

Doha's "sole link is with the legitimate representative of the (Syrian) people, which is the National Coalition," it said in a statement carried by QNA state news agency.

The Qatari statement said the emir told Iranian foreign minister Zarif that Doha "stands by the Syrian people's side and its just demands," while it "would welcome a political solution that guarantees this people's legitimate rights."

The emir also stressed that Doha welcomes the Syria peace conference that will be held in Geneva on January 22 as a "preliminary step towards a comprehensive solution that would achieve regional stability".