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UN suspends Syria peace talks until end of February UN suspends Syria peace talks until end of February
(35 minutes later)
UN-mediated talks to end the war in Syria are on pause until 25 February, United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura has announced, saying the talks had not failed but needed immediate help from international backers led by the United States and Russia. UN-mediated talks to end the war in Syria are on pause until 25 February, the United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura has announced. He said the negotiations had not failed but needed immediate help from international backers led by the US and Russia.
“I have concluded frankly that after the first week of preparatory talks there is more work to be done, not only by us but by the stakeholders,” he told reporters after meeting the opposition delegation at their hotel. “I have concluded frankly that after the first week of preparatory talks there is more work to be done, not only by us but by the stakeholders,” he told reporters after meeting the opposition delegation at their hotel. “I have indicated from the first day that I won’t talk for the sake of talking.”
“I have indicated from the first day that I won’t talk for the sake of talking,” he said.
Shortly before the announcement, a UN spokeswoman told Reuters that three humanitarian aid workers had been killed and hundreds of families uprooted in a military offensive around the city of Aleppo by Syrian government and allied forces.Shortly before the announcement, a UN spokeswoman told Reuters that three humanitarian aid workers had been killed and hundreds of families uprooted in a military offensive around the city of Aleppo by Syrian government and allied forces.
“The UN has received reports of displacement of hundreds of households in north-east towns of Bayanoun, Hariyatan, Anadan, Hayan and Rityan of Syria following an unprecedented frequency of air strikes in the past two days,” the spokeswoman said in a statement. “The UN has received reports of displacement of hundreds of households in north-east towns of Bayanoun, Hariyatan, Anadan, Hayan and Rityan of Syria following an unprecedented frequency of airstrikes in the past two days,” the spokeswoman said.
Syrian state television and Lebanon’s Hezbollah TV reported that the Syrian army and allied militiamen had broken a long rebel siege of two Shia villages in northern Aleppo province. Nubl and Zahra, at the centre of opposition-held territory, had been blockaded for three years.Syrian state television and Lebanon’s Hezbollah TV reported that the Syrian army and allied militiamen had broken a long rebel siege of two Shia villages in northern Aleppo province. Nubl and Zahra, at the centre of opposition-held territory, had been blockaded for three years.
Their capture would mark a major victory for government forces, which have made significant advances in the province in the past few days. Rebels said the breakthrough came after hundreds of bombing raids by Russian warplanes. Their capture would be a boost for government forces, which have made significant advances in the province in the past few days. Rebels said the breakthrough came after hundreds of bombing raids by Russian warplanes.