Washington, Jan 23 : Secretary of State John Kerry has said there was no way Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will be part of the transition government in the war-stricken country.

Kerry at the international peace conference on the Syrian Civil War asserted that Assad has held the country 'hostage' and cannot remain in power.

Kerry told the Geneva conference in Montreux, Switzerland that Assad had lost the legitimacy to govern, as he was the one who led the brutal response to his own people.

According to Politico, the conference brings world powers together with the Syrian regime and the Syrian opposition to negotiate a transitional government and end violence in the war-torn country.

In his comments, Kerry charged the Assad regime with abusing the rights of his people to hold on to power. (ANI)