Syria's government and main political opposition have traded bitter accusations as a major peace conference began in Switzerland.
The summit in Geneva is discussing a political transition plan for Syria and was hearing from about 40 foreign ministers on Wednesday before direct talks were scheduled to begin on Friday.
The Syrian opposition and the United States said President Bashar al-Assad had no legitimacy and must step down from power, the BBC reports.
Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem called the opposition traitors and foreign agents, and said the real issue in Syria was terrorism by Sunni militant groups backed by countries in the Gulf.
He also had a terse exchange with the chairman, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, refusing to cut short his lengthy speech and saying only Syrians could decide Assad's fate.
"You live in New York. I live in Syria," Muallem told the UN Secretary-General. "I have the right to give the Syrian version here. After three years of suffering, this is my right."
