US's Kerry calls Syria opposition, urges to attend Rome talks

John Kerry, in London on his first trip as U.S. Secretary of State, telephoned Moaz Alkhatib, head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, on Monday to urge him to attend a planned Syriameeting in Rome this week, a U.S. official said.

"The secretary just completed a call with President Alkhatib ... to encourage him to come to Rome," said the senior U.S. official travelling with Kerry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Reuters reported.