Syrian regime to continue peace talks without opposition

Syria's fragile UN-brokered talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict will continue until 27 April, despite the withdrawal of the main opposition group.

The High Negotiations Committee representing the majority of the Syrian opposition - left Geneva in protest at an upsurge in violence in Syria this week.

But the talks are expected to continue between the Syrian government and another opposition group with mediation from Staffan de Mistura in Switzerland.

"We will continue the talks until 27 April, according to the initial invitation we received from de Mistura," Qadri Jamil, co-president of the Moscow Group and Syria's former deputy premier, told AFP.

Bashar al-Jaafari, the regime's chief representative at the talks, confirmed negotiations would continue after the weekend.

"We will meet with Mr. de Mistura for a fifth time on Monday at 11 am," he told reporters following a meeting with the UN envoy.

Another source close to the Jaafari's delegation told AFP that the delegation would "stay in Geneva until Wednesday at least".

Meanwhile, Syria's key ally Russia downplayed the significance of the HNC's departure from Geneva despite the group being by far the largest opposition body.

"Probably no one loses but them if they leave the negotiations," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, referring to the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC).

Russia - a key backer of the regime - downplayed the significance of the departure of Syria's main opposition group the UN brokered peace talks.

"Probably no one loses but them if they leave the negotiations," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on a visit to Armenia, referring to the opposition High Negotiations Committee.

The HNC earlier this week halted its formal participation in the round of talks that began in Geneva on 13 April in frustration over surging violence on the ground.

"If they want to secure their participation only at the expense of ultimatums with which everyone needs to agree then this is their problem," Lavrov said.

As the talks continued, air raids in Aleppo killed 19 people.