Syrian opposition says government obstructing Geneva talks

Opposition spokesman Yahya Aridi said on Tuesday that the Damascus delegation told UN envoy Staffan de Mistura they won’t negotiate directly.

He said de Mistura told them about the government’s stance.

Aridi says the opposition delegates “consider this to be a precondition.” There was no immediate response from the government team in Switzerland.

Syrian opposition and government delegates are back in Geneva for a new round of UN-sponsored talks after a short break.

The government delegation has protested the opposition’s insistence on the absence of President Bashar al-Assad from any future transition period.

The opposition has been calling for the indirect peace talks to become direct.