Syria oppn meets to decide on peace talks

AFP, RIYADH: The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition met Wednesday to decide whether to attend UN peace talks, as wrangling over who will go threatens to derail the biggest push yet to resolve the country’s war.
Members of the so-called High Negotiations Committee—formed in Riyadh last month in an effort to unite Syria’s fractious opposition—met in the Saudi capital for a second day on whether to accept a UN invitation to the talks due to start Friday. The Committee insists it must be the sole opposition delegation at the talks in Geneva and is asking for “clarifications” after the UN issued invitations to other regime opponents.
The negotiations were already delayed from Monday over the issue of who will represent the myriad forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s nearly five-year civil war.
Committee spokesman Monzer Makhous told AFP the talks had resumed and could last all day but refused to comment further.
Diplomats, including US Secretary of State John Kerry who met with Committee members at the weekend, have piled pressure on the opposition to attend.

Syria oppn meets to decide on peace talks

AFP, RIYADH: The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition met Wednesday to decide whether to attend UN peace talks, as wrangling over who will go threatens to derail the biggest push yet to resolve the countrys war. Members of the so-called High Negotiations Committeeformed in Riyadh last month in an effort to unite Syrias fractious oppositionmet in the Saudi capital for a second day on whether to accept a UN invitation to the talks due to start Friday. The Committee insists it must be the sole opposition delegation at the talks in Geneva and is asking for clarifications after the UN issued invitations to other regime opponents. The negotiations were already delayed from Monday over the issue of who will represent the myriad forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad in Syrias nearly five-year civil war. Committee spokesman Monzer Makhous told AFP the talks had resumed and could last all day but refused to comment further. Diplomats, including US Secretary of State John Kerry who met with Committee members at the weekend, have piled pressure on the opposition to attend.