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Owen Smith says Isis should be brought 'round the table' for Syria peace talks | Owen Smith says Isis should be brought 'round the table' for Syria peace talks |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Labour leadership contender Owen Smith has sparked controversy by suggesting that “at some point” there may need to be negotiations involving Isis to end the Syrian civil war. | The Labour leadership contender Owen Smith has sparked controversy by suggesting that “at some point” there may need to be negotiations involving Isis to end the Syrian civil war. |
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While being quizzed over the issue during a debate with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, he said “all of the actors” needed to be involved in any talks to stop the conflict which has claimed thousands of lives. | |
Both Mr Smith and Mr Corbyn were asked whether they thought the brutal terror group should take part in talks. | |
While Mr Corbyn replied “no, they’re not going to be round the table, no,” his rival gave a more equivocal answer. | While Mr Corbyn replied “no, they’re not going to be round the table, no,” his rival gave a more equivocal answer. |
Mr Smith said: “Ultimately all solutions to these crises do come about through dialogue. | Mr Smith said: “Ultimately all solutions to these crises do come about through dialogue. |
“So eventually if we are to try and solve this, all of the actors do need to be involved. | “So eventually if we are to try and solve this, all of the actors do need to be involved. |
“At the moment, ISIL are clearly not interested in negotiating.” | “At the moment, ISIL are clearly not interested in negotiating.” |
But when asked by BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire if he was “a yes”, he replied: “At some point, for us to resolve this, we will need to get people round the table.” | But when asked by BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire if he was “a yes”, he replied: “At some point, for us to resolve this, we will need to get people round the table.” |
There was controversy at the start of the year when Mr Corbyn suggested the British government could keep some form of diplomatic back-channel open to Isis to encourage a political solution. | There was controversy at the start of the year when Mr Corbyn suggested the British government could keep some form of diplomatic back-channel open to Isis to encourage a political solution. |