ISTANBUL -- Syrian opposition said here on Sunday that it in principle agrees to participate in the upcoming Geneva talks.

"We are ready to enter into negotiations aiming at transferring power to the people," senior member of the largely foreign-based Syrian National Council (SNC) Louay Safi said, noting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "cannot be a part of Syria in the future. "

He told reporters in the Turkish city of Istanbul "in principle, we welcome the international peace initiative," adding that any settlement must exclude the embattled leader.

Safi made the remarks after the announcement of Syrian government's decision to participate in the upcoming Geneva II conference.

The Syrian main opposition group has held talks since Thursday in Istanbul to discuss its stance in the upcoming Geneva II meeting.

During the Istanbul meeting, the SNC is also expected to elect a new president to replace Moaz al-Khatib who resigned in February.