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Syrian opposition postpones participation in Geneva talks

April 19, 2016 at 9:23 am

The Syrian opposition coalition decided to postpone its participation in the ongoing talks in Geneva on Monday due to a lack of progress in the humanitarian situation and the escalating violence.

Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations mediator, said on Monday that the coalition delegation would stay in Geneva but postpone its formal participation in the negotiations.

They are pausing the talks “in order to express their own displeasure and concern on the humanitarian situation degradation and on the problems related to the cessation of hostilities”, said de Mistura.

Riad Hijab, the head of the coalition, said that it was “unacceptable” for the talks to carry on while President Bashar al-Assad’s forces continued to “bombard and starve civilians” in Syria.

Hijab said the regime and its allies were using the talks as a “pretext” for continuing their military campaign.