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Syrian opposition sharply divided ahead of peace talks Activists: Air raids kill dozens in eastern Syria
(35 minutes later)
BEIRUT — Syrian opposition figures say groups opposed to President Bashar Assad are still divided ahead of peace talks scheduled to begin in Geneva next week. BEIRUT — Syrian opposition activists say air raids on two villages in eastern Syria have killed at least 40 people and wounded scores more.
The officials say Russia wants to add names to the delegation that opposition groups backed by Saudi Arabia announced this week. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the air raids on the villages of Tabiah and Bouleil killed 40 people, including whole families.
The U.N.-backed talks between the Syrian government and opposition are scheduled for Monday although officials have said they might be briefly delayed. The Local Coordination Committees said the air raids killed 30 in Tabiah and dozens in Bouleil.
Abdul-Basit Sieda of the Saudi-backed opposition said they reject Russia’s desire to add names to the opposition roster because Moscow is a strong backer of Assad. Opposition activist Omar Abu Leila said Friday’s air raids hit the two villages that are under the control of the Islamic State group, saying all those killed were civilians.
On Wednesday, senior opposition official, Riyad Hijab, announced the names of opposition negotiators saying their chief will be Mohammad Alloush, a representative of an Islamic rebel group. The LCC and Abu Leila said the air raids were carried out by Russian warplanes but it was not possible to independently confirm the claim.
Another opposition figure said Friday that naming Alloush is “provocative.” IS controls most of Deir el-Zour province and over the past week launched a wide offensive capturing some areas from government forces near the provincial capital city of Deir el-Zour.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.