This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/world/middleeast/syria-talks-take-tentative-step-forward-despite-new-attacks.html

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Syria Talks Take Tentative Step Forward Despite New Attacks Syria Talks Take Tentative Step Forward Despite New Attacks
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — The United Nations mediator in the war in Syria prepared to meet Monday in Geneva with members of the opposition, as deaths from a suicide attack on a Shiite shrine in a government-controlled territory escalated sharply. GENEVA — The United Nations mediator in the war in Syria met on Monday in Geneva with members of the opposition, as deaths from a suicide attack on a Shiite shrine in a government-controlled territory escalated sharply.
The attack on Sunday on the revered shrine, Sayeda Zeinab, near the Syrian capital, Damascus, killed at least 72 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. About 40 deaths had been reported earlier; Syrian state television said more than 50 had been killed. Opposition members said the meeting with the mediator, Staffan de Mistura, lasted nearly two hours and they had received a “positive response” from him to their demands in creating the basis for talks with the Syrian government: a release of political prisoners, the lifting of sieges on insurgent-held areas, and a halt to airstrikes.
The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, which heightened the potential to sharpen sectarian divides in the conflict. The Islamic State, which controls parts of Syria and Iraq and is widely reviled as a Sunni extremist terrorist organization, is not a party to the Geneva talks, nor does it have any interest in a political settlement. As a first step, they presented Mr. de Mistura with a list of 300 people, all women and children, whom they described as political prisoners of the forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
The suicide attack on Sunday on the revered shrine, Sayeda Zeinab, near the Syrian capital, Damascus, killed at least 72 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. About 40 deaths had been reported earlier; Syrian state television said more than 50 had been killed.
The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, which heightened the potential to sharpen sectarian divides in the conflict. The Islamic State, which controls parts of Syria and Iraq and is widely reviled as a Sunni extremist terrorist organization, is not a party to the Geneva talks, nor does it have any interest in a political settlement.
In Moadhamiyeh, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus hit by heavy bombardment on Sunday, doctors said that investigations had shown that breathing difficulties in patients had been caused by dust and phosphates and not from a chemical weapon like chlorine, as they had initially feared.In Moadhamiyeh, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus hit by heavy bombardment on Sunday, doctors said that investigations had shown that breathing difficulties in patients had been caused by dust and phosphates and not from a chemical weapon like chlorine, as they had initially feared.
The Syrian government intensified its military advance even as it took steps to talk in Geneva. On Monday, a shell hit a school playground in the rebel-held town of Madaya, wounding several children, according to residents. The government has for months laid siege to Madaya, where some residents, including children, have starved because the delivery of emergency food and medicine has been obstructed. The United Nations has said the government is responsible for besieging roughly 187,000 people in rebel-held towns, while rebel groups are besieging two towns with around 12,000 residents.The Syrian government intensified its military advance even as it took steps to talk in Geneva. On Monday, a shell hit a school playground in the rebel-held town of Madaya, wounding several children, according to residents. The government has for months laid siege to Madaya, where some residents, including children, have starved because the delivery of emergency food and medicine has been obstructed. The United Nations has said the government is responsible for besieging roughly 187,000 people in rebel-held towns, while rebel groups are besieging two towns with around 12,000 residents.
Until now, a cease-fire had held in Madaya and neighboring Zabadani, along with two government-held towns to the north that are surrounded by insurgents. The renewed military strikes on Madaya began in recent days, along with the talks in Geneva, as the warring parties jockey for leverage at the table.Until now, a cease-fire had held in Madaya and neighboring Zabadani, along with two government-held towns to the north that are surrounded by insurgents. The renewed military strikes on Madaya began in recent days, along with the talks in Geneva, as the warring parties jockey for leverage at the table.
Umm Majd, a Madaya resident reached by telephone who gave only her nickname out of concerns for her safety, called on Riad Hijab, the head of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, to pull out of the Geneva talks because the cease-fire had been broken.Umm Majd, a Madaya resident reached by telephone who gave only her nickname out of concerns for her safety, called on Riad Hijab, the head of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, to pull out of the Geneva talks because the cease-fire had been broken.
“What negotiations are they talking about?” she said. “We’re living in starvation and blood. Before the conference there was a truce, after it we have shelling.”“What negotiations are they talking about?” she said. “We’re living in starvation and blood. Before the conference there was a truce, after it we have shelling.”
She added: “I plead with the opposition negotiators to pull out. What are you negotiating on? On our blood! Or our children’s blood. Both ways we’re dying.”She added: “I plead with the opposition negotiators to pull out. What are you negotiating on? On our blood! Or our children’s blood. Both ways we’re dying.”
Her anger reflected the pressure on the opposition delegation as it sent members to start talks with the United Nations mediator, Staffan de Mistura. Opposition fighters have lately lost ground on the battlefield, mainly because of Russian airstrikes in support of government forces. Her anger reflected the pressure on the opposition delegation as it started talks with Mr. de Mistura. Opposition fighters have lately lost ground on the battlefield, mainly because of Russian airstrikes in support of government forces.
The opposition bloc has insisted that it will not talk about a political process until sieges are lifted, aerial bombardments halted and political prisoners released. But the opposition also has been eager to show willingness to start talks to end the nearly five-year war. At the same time, the opposition has been eager to show willingness to start talks to end the nearly five-year war.
The government delegation first talked with Mr. de Mistura on Friday. It was scheduled to have another round of talks with him Monday morning but that was postponed until after the opposition meeting.The government delegation first talked with Mr. de Mistura on Friday. It was scheduled to have another round of talks with him Monday morning but that was postponed until after the opposition meeting.