UN extends Syria talks to 15 December

UN-backed talks between the Syrian regime and opposition groups in Geneva are to be extended until 15 December, the international body announced today.

Announcing the extension the UN added that the Syrian government delegation might go home to “consult and refresh” for several days while Bashar Al-Assad’s presidency had not yet been discussed.

UN mediator Staffan de Mistura told a news conference that the talks – in which he is shuttling between rival delegations in separate rooms – would focus in particular on a new constitution and UN-supervised parliamentary and presidential elections, and 12 core principles that he declined to enumerate.

Syrian government negotiators arrived in Geneva yesterday to take part in talks aimed at ending the civil war. It had been feared that the officials would not attend the talks.

It had been reported that their arrival was guaranteed after securing key concessions, including keeping the Assad issue off the table.

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