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Syria conflict: Geneva peace talks under way amid uncertainty Syria conflict: Key opposition group to join Geneva talks
(about 1 hour later)
Syria peace talks have begun in Geneva amid confusion over whether opposition groups will attend. The key Syrian opposition group has said it will join peace talks that have opened in Geneva.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura opened the talks by meeting the Syrian government's delegation on Friday afternoon. The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) earlier said it would only join if Syrian government forces ended their air strikes and blockades.
However, some opposition leaders have said they want an end to air strikes and blockades by government forces as a precursor to talks. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has already met the Syrian government's delegation in the Swiss city.
More than 250,000 people have died in almost five years of war in Syria. More than 250,000 people have died and 11 million have fled their homes in almost five years of war in Syria.
About 11 million others have been forced from their homes as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS). Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS).
The so-called proximity talks are expected to last for six months, with delegations sitting in separate rooms and UN officials shuttling between them.The so-called proximity talks are expected to last for six months, with delegations sitting in separate rooms and UN officials shuttling between them.
What hope for the talks?What hope for the talks?
In a separate development, the Dutch government announced it was planning to extend air strikes against IS militants to Syria. International system has failed Syria
The Dutch are already bombing IS targets in neighbouring Iraq. The story of the conflict
Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaer said attacking the IS group in Syria would lead to "more progress". Ultimate aim
'Not in Geneva' A senior HNC delegate said the group would send "30, 35 people" to Geneva, the AFP news agency reports.
Earlier, Fuad Aliko, a source close to the group, said the delegation would not be acting "as negotiators".
Farrah el-Atassi, another activist close to the HNC, told Reuters the team would talk to Mr de Mistura but also said it would not negotiate directly with the Syrian government.
Mr de Mistura said he had a "good reason to believe" that the HNC would join the talks on Sunday.
In a video message to the Syrian people on Thursday, Mr de Mistura warned the talks "cannot fail".In a video message to the Syrian people on Thursday, Mr de Mistura warned the talks "cannot fail".
"He will continue meetings with other participants in the talks and with representatives of the civil society subsequently," his office said."He will continue meetings with other participants in the talks and with representatives of the civil society subsequently," his office said.
The Syrian government delegation is led by the country's ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari.The Syrian government delegation is led by the country's ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari.
On Thursday, Riad Hijab, head of the opposition's Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC), declared that "tomorrow, we will not be in Geneva". Earlier, the HNC said it was seeking an end to the bombing of civilians and assurances that aid would reach civilians in besieged towns, before attending in Geneva.
He was speaking after a meeting in Riyadh in which the committee, which was formed after a conference of political and armed factions last month, said it wanted an end to the bombing of civilians and assurances that aid would reach civilians in besieged towns. Later reports spoke of it "receiving assurances".
On Friday, HNC member Hind Kabawat told the BBC: "We can't sit down and negotiate when our people need milk. We need to stop the sieges. We need to stop the starvation of our people." The immediate priorities of the talks are a broad ceasefire, humanitarian aid deliveries and halting the threat posed by so-called Islamic State.
But another senior figure with the committee, Hassan Abdel Azim, said that members of the opposition were on their way to Geneva, and others would follow. But the ultimate aim is a peace settlement that includes a transitional period ending with elections, in line with a UN Security Council resolution approved last month.
Later, pan-Arab Al-Arabiya TV quoted the HNC as saying it had decided to participate in the talks "after receiving assurances".
The immediate priorities are a broad ceasefire, humanitarian aid deliveries and halting the threat posed by IS. But the ultimate aim is a peace settlement that includes a transitional period ending with elections, in line with a UN Security Council resolution approved last month.
The last talks aimed at ending the conflict broke down in February 2014 after only two rounds, with the UN blaming the government for refusing to discuss an opposition demand for Mr Assad to step down.The last talks aimed at ending the conflict broke down in February 2014 after only two rounds, with the UN blaming the government for refusing to discuss an opposition demand for Mr Assad to step down.
Despite little sign of a change in that stance, the rise of the IS group prompted the US and Russia to step up their efforts to get the warring parties back to the negotiating table.Despite little sign of a change in that stance, the rise of the IS group prompted the US and Russia to step up their efforts to get the warring parties back to the negotiating table.
In his message, Mr de Mistura warned that these talks could be the country's last chance for peace. In a separate development, the Dutch government announced it was planning to extend air strikes against IS militants to Syria.
"Now we need to hear your voice to everyone who is coming to this conference, and saying this conference must be an opportunity not to be missed," he said. Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaer said attacking the IS group in Syria would lead to "more progress".
The Dutch are already bombing IS targets in neighbouring Iraq.