The United Nations announced the formal start of peace talks for Syria on Monday and urged world powers to push for a ceasefire as Syrian forces backed by Russian air strikes launched their biggest offensive in a year, reports Reuters.
Reiterating that the opposition representatives had not formally accepted the UN peace talk process, Monzer Makhous form the High Negotiations Committee told press,
“We are here for a few days. Just to be clear, only a few days. If there is no progress on the ground we are leaving. We are not here for negotiations, we are here to test the regime’s intentions.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said that government troops and allied fighters captured a countryside supply route used by opposition forces on Monday morning.
Opposition militants said the government offensive had been backed by Russian air support.
Opposition representatives agreed to travel to Geneva on Friday, after saying they had received commitments to improve the situation on the ground.
Syrian opposition meet UN envoy to reiterate precursory demands for political negotiations (31 Jan 2016)
Syrian opposition to boycott UN peace talks (28 Jan 2016)
Reiterating that the opposition representatives had not formally accepted the UN peace talk process, Monzer Makhous form the High Negotiations Committee told press,
“We are here for a few days. Just to be clear, only a few days. If there is no progress on the ground we are leaving. We are not here for negotiations, we are here to test the regime’s intentions.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said that government troops and allied fighters captured a countryside supply route used by opposition forces on Monday morning.
Opposition militants said the government offensive had been backed by Russian air support.
Opposition representatives agreed to travel to Geneva on Friday, after saying they had received commitments to improve the situation on the ground.
Syrian opposition meet UN envoy to reiterate precursory demands for political negotiations (31 Jan 2016)
Syrian opposition to boycott UN peace talks (28 Jan 2016)