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International meeting for Syria cease-fire cancelled, Russia says | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
BEIRUT — A meeting of the international coordinating group charged with implementing a cease-fire in Syria was cancelled Friday, Russia's foreign ministry said, delaying any reduction of hostilities and raising further questions about the workability of the truce. | BEIRUT — A meeting of the international coordinating group charged with implementing a cease-fire in Syria was cancelled Friday, Russia's foreign ministry said, delaying any reduction of hostilities and raising further questions about the workability of the truce. |
The coordinating group was due to convene in Geneva Friday but called off the meeting, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. | |
“There was no group meeting today,” she said. She did not elaborate on why the meeting did not take place. | |
The cancellation signals another setback for international efforts to broker an end to a civil war that has killed 250,000 people, displaced millions and turned into a dangerous proxy conflict for world powers. | The cancellation signals another setback for international efforts to broker an end to a civil war that has killed 250,000 people, displaced millions and turned into a dangerous proxy conflict for world powers. |
However, U.S. and Russian military officials did hold an unannounced bilateral meeting Friday morning, the Reuters news agency reported from Geneva. | However, U.S. and Russian military officials did hold an unannounced bilateral meeting Friday morning, the Reuters news agency reported from Geneva. |
The bilateral meeting was aimed at narrowing positions between the two powers — an attempt for a joint view, Reuters reported. No other details on the bilateral meeting were given. | The bilateral meeting was aimed at narrowing positions between the two powers — an attempt for a joint view, Reuters reported. No other details on the bilateral meeting were given. |
The United States and Russia, which back opposing sides in the five-year-old Syrian conflict, backed a tentative agreement in Munich last week to reach a cease-fire and deliver humanitarian aid to besieged Syrians. | The United States and Russia, which back opposing sides in the five-year-old Syrian conflict, backed a tentative agreement in Munich last week to reach a cease-fire and deliver humanitarian aid to besieged Syrians. |
That agreement, described by U.S. officials as a last-ditch push for peace, followed the collapse earlier this month of U.N.-supported peace talks because of a sweeping offensive in northern Syria by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. | That agreement, described by U.S. officials as a last-ditch push for peace, followed the collapse earlier this month of U.N.-supported peace talks because of a sweeping offensive in northern Syria by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. |
Government forces have made sweeping advances against rebels around the strategic city of Aleppo with the help of Iranian-led militiamen and airstrikes from Russia, an ally of the Syrian leader that intervened in the conflict on his behalf in September. | Government forces have made sweeping advances against rebels around the strategic city of Aleppo with the help of Iranian-led militiamen and airstrikes from Russia, an ally of the Syrian leader that intervened in the conflict on his behalf in September. |
Russian airstrikes have since pulverized rebel groups and helped turn the tide of the civil war. | Russian airstrikes have since pulverized rebel groups and helped turn the tide of the civil war. |
Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Daniela Deane contributed from London. | Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Daniela Deane contributed from London. |