Rebel fighters gather on the outskirts of the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, Syria February 1, 2017. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s armed opposition factions said in a statement on Wednesday they could not accept an invitation to peace talks which did not lead to a “transition of power to a transitional governing body”.

The statement also said no steps could be taken towards a political solution to the Syrian civil war without a fully enforced ceasefire.

It said no outsiders could choose who represented the Syrian opposition at negotiations, a comment directed at U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.