Accessibility links

Breaking News

Syrian Talks at Impasse


Syria's main opposition group says peace talks with the government have hit a "dead end," after days of talks in Geneva without any breakthroughs.

Opposition spokesman Louay Safi Friday blamed what he calls the government's "belligerence.'' Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad said the opposition has an "unrealistic agenda.''

The opposition wants to discuss setting up a transitional government that would likely exclude President Bashar al-Assad. The government says the focus must be fighting terrorism. Damascus uses the word "terrorists" when talking about the rebels.

In Syria, opposition activists said a car bomb blew up outside a mosque in the rebel-held village of Yadouda Friday, killing at least 29 people.

Syrian government television also reported the blast, but gave no details.

Also Friday, the U.N. Security Council continued discussions on a draft resolution that, among other things, expresses "grave alarm" over civilians trapped by Syrian forces.



Russia is threatening a veto, calling it too one-sided against the Syrian government.

U.N. emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos says getting aid to desperate civilians in Syria should not be a matter of controversy or politics.
XS
SM
MD
LG