BEIRUT: The Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition should prepare for the post-Bashar Assad era, head of the Syrian National Council Abdel-Basset Sida said Thursday.

“The situation in Syria has entered a crucial phase and the March 8 team should prepare for the post-Assad era,” Sida told the Kataeb-run Voice of Lebanon radio station.

“But how long this phase will last depends on developments on the ground as well as regional and global equations,” he added.

Sida was resolute that Syria will not be divided. “We are confident that the Syrian people will confront [attempts to split up Syria],” he said.

While stressing that the SNC’s ties with the Future-led March 14 coalition are “good,” Sida said that this should not be at other people’s expense.

“We look forward to good relations with everybody in Lebanon,” he said.

Sida said there is no sign that members of March 8 political parties were fighting alongside Assad’s forces against the Syrian rebels. “There is no information at present to indicate any such military intervention by the March 8 forces,” he said.