Talks between the regime and Syrian opposition due to resume next week in Geneva aim to set up a political transition process to end the country's five-year-old war. A UN-brokered international roadmap foresees a transitional authority by the middle of this year and elections by mid- 2017.

'Assad has to leave at the beginning of the process' the Saudi minister whose country backs the Syrian opposition told reporters in Paris. Referring to the sequence of events he said 'There is a transitional body power shifts from Assad to the transitional body and then he goes.'

After that 'the transitional body drafts a constitution prepares for elections. Some are arguing that no Bashar leaves at the elections in 18 months that's not how we think.

'For us it is very clear he leaves at the beginning of the process not at the end.'

Syria peace talks set for March 9 will begin the following day with participants due to arrive in Geneva over several days UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Saturday.

A first round of talks in early February was cut short amid intensifying Russian airstrikes in Syria in support of Assad's forces.