US Secretary of State John Kerry said the opposition factions had made progress in their talks.
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Meanwhile, the Islamic State militant group on Thursday recaptured two areas in central Syria from government forces, just weeks after losing them, a monitor said.
The oil-rich kingdom is a financial and diplomatic backer of the Syrian opposition fighting to oust Assad.
Akbik said that bringing the armed rebels together with the political opposition in a single group was a necessary step for negotiations with the government.
The Associated Press reported that Ahrar al-Sham, a Saudi-backed ultraconservative group operating mainly in Syria’s north, withdrew as the gathering came to a close Thursday, and that the group had issued a statement complaining that the conference had failed to “confirm the Muslim identity of our people”.
A source in the National Coalition, the main opposition group which is based in Istanbul, said Thursday that the delegates had agreed on a set of basic principles, including ensuring Syria is a “pluralist and civil state” and guaranteeing the country’s territorial integrity. Participants also agreed on the need to safeguard state institutions while restructuring the security forces.
Western diplomats say that unless armed groups are represented at the talks, it will be impossible to implement any agreements reached on the ground.
To prepare for talks with the regime a joint body representing various factions will be established, followed by the selection of a negotiating team to join UN-mediated talks and implemention of a future ceasefire.
Although there was agreement on a framework for negotiation, the withdrawal of Ahrar al-Sham, whose founders are linked to al-Qaida, underscored the difficulties that lie ahead as groups with competing ideologies try to forge a common vision for the future. There is a possibility that Syrian peace talks will be held in NY on December 18 but the date is “not locked” yet, Kerry said.
Among those participating in the meetings in Riyadh are hard-line Saudi-backed groups such as Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, who had long rejected any negotiations with Assad’s government while he remained in power. Worldwide efforts to resolve the conflict have been lent added urgency by a wave of deadly attacks across the world claimed by the Iraq- and Syria-based Islamic State and by the escalating refugee flow which has caused a crisis in Europe. It also calls for an all-inclusive, democratic civic state.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir wished the group success at the start of their talks before leaving the closed-door session, according to a statement released to the media.
Saudi Arabia is a main backer of the rebels along with Turkey and Western countries.
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The formation of the Syrian Democratic Council was agreed at a two-day conference in the northeastern town of Al Malikiyeh where participants also discussed the future of the country after more than four years of war.
