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Syria troops advance near Aleppo, amid frail UN peace bid Syria troops advance near Aleppo, amid frail UN peace bid
(about 2 hours later)
BEIRUT — Syria’s official news agency SANA says forces loyal to the government have retaken a village north of Aleppo, opening the way to further advances around Syria’s largest city. BEIRUT — Syria’s official news agency SANA says forces loyal to the government have retaken a village north of Aleppo, opening the way to further advances around Syria’s largest city as peace talks in Geneva entered a second day.
The capture of Hardatneen early Tuesday came a day after U.N.-led Syria peace talks got off to a wobbly start in Geneva. The capture of Hardatneen early Tuesday came hours before U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura hosted a government delegation in Geneva, and was expecting an opposition group for a separate meeting later in the day, according to the U.N. But one opposition leader said his group was still deciding whether to attend that afternoon meeting.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition group that monitors the conflict, says pro-government troops have captured three villages near Aleppo since Monday, opening access to an important supply route to the city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition group that monitors the conflict, says pro-government troops have captured three villages near Aleppo since Monday, opening access to an important supply route to the city. The Observatory says heavy aerial bombardment, presumed to be from the Russian Air Force, supported the ground troops.
The Observatory says heavy aerial bombardment, presumed to be from the Russian Air Force, supported the ground troops.
In Geneva, both sides have accused each other of bad faith. The opposition has said government airstrikes and sieges of rebel-held areas must stop ahead of talks.In Geneva, both sides have accused each other of bad faith. The opposition has said government airstrikes and sieges of rebel-held areas must stop ahead of talks.
The chief negotiator of the High Negotiations Committee, the main opposition group, said he was not optimistic about the talks because the situation has not changed on the ground.
Mohammed Alloush of the Army of Islam militant group, which is part of the HNC, told reporters at a Geneva hotel that the opposition group was still discussing whether to meet with de Mistura in coming days.
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.