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Syrian civil war peace talks at risk from Iran invitation Syrian civil war peace talks at risk over Iran invitation
(35 minutes later)
The first direct talks between both sides in the three-year Syrian civil war appeared at risk over a last-minute move by the UN secretary general to invite Iran to the opening meeting. The first direct talks between both sides in the three-year Syrian civil war appear to be at risk over a last-minute move by the UN secretary general to invite Iran to the opening meeting.
The Syrian opposition only narrowly agreed to attend the talks, due to start in Geneva on Wednesday, over the weekend. On Monday, their attendance was once again in doubt following Bank Ki-moon's decision to invite Tehran – a key regional ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - which they said must be withdrawn before talks can begin. The Syrian opposition only narrowly agreed to attend the talks, due to start in Geneva on Wednesday, over the weekend. On Monday, their attendance was once again in doubt after Ban Ki-moon's decision to invite Tehran – a key regional ally of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad – which they said must be withdrawn before talks can begin.
Iran's attendance also threatens to drive a wedge between the US and Russia, the key international sponsors of the talks.Iran's attendance also threatens to drive a wedge between the US and Russia, the key international sponsors of the talks.
Both the US and Britain said Iran should only be allowed to attend if it backed the formation of a transitional government in Syria, something the Assad regime has repeatedly resisted.Both the US and Britain said Iran should only be allowed to attend if it backed the formation of a transitional government in Syria, something the Assad regime has repeatedly resisted.
But Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Monday that excluding Iran from the talks "unforgivable mistake". But Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Monday that excluding Iran from the talks would be an "unforgivable mistake".
Ban invited Iran to attend the first day of talks on 22 January in Montreux, Switzerland, before the first face-to-face meeting between both sides on Friday in Geneva. Ban invited Iran to attend the first day of talks on 22 January in Montreux, Switzerland, before the first face-to-face meeting between both sides on Friday in Geneva. He said Tehran had pledged to play a "positive and constructive role" if it was asked to participate.
He said Tehran had pledged to play a "positive and constructive role" if it was asked to participate.
The Geneva II talks, which were first proposed last summer, are scheduled to discuss the creation of a transitional government, something tentatively agreed at the first Geneva talks in June 2012.The Geneva II talks, which were first proposed last summer, are scheduled to discuss the creation of a transitional government, something tentatively agreed at the first Geneva talks in June 2012.
Both sides in the conflict, which did not attend the initial talks, have disputed the meaning of the agreement. Assad has insisted he will not relinquish power, a point he underlined to visiting Russian MPs over the weekend.Both sides in the conflict, which did not attend the initial talks, have disputed the meaning of the agreement. Assad has insisted he will not relinquish power, a point he underlined to visiting Russian MPs over the weekend.
In a new interview with AFP he said there was a "good chance" he would run in a presidential election scheduled for June and ruled out the opposition obtaining any ministerial positions in a new government, calling this "totally unrealistic". In an interview with Agence France-Presse he said there was a good chance he would run in a presidential election scheduled for June. He ruled out the opposition obtaining any ministerial positions in a new government, calling this "totally unrealistic".
The western-backed opposition has, until now, consistently rejected entering talks with the Assad government until he agrees to stand down.The western-backed opposition has, until now, consistently rejected entering talks with the Assad government until he agrees to stand down.
On Saturday, the Syrian Opposition Coalition voted by a narrow margin to take part in the talks without that precondition, after coming under pressure from the US and Britain. But it is now threatening to withdraw.On Saturday, the Syrian Opposition Coalition voted by a narrow margin to take part in the talks without that precondition, after coming under pressure from the US and Britain. But it is now threatening to withdraw.
"The Syrian Coalition announces that they will withdraw their attendance in Geneva II unless Ban Ki-moon retracts Iran's invitation," it tweeted, quoting National Coalition spokesman Louay Safi."The Syrian Coalition announces that they will withdraw their attendance in Geneva II unless Ban Ki-moon retracts Iran's invitation," it tweeted, quoting National Coalition spokesman Louay Safi.
Another senior coalition member, Anas al-Abdah, told al-Jazeera TV that the body was "surprised" by the invitation to Iran. "It is illogical and we cannot in any way accept it." Another senior coalition member, Anas al-Abdah, told Al-Jazeera TV that the body was surprised by the invitation to Iran. "It is illogical and we cannot in any way accept it."
The US state department backed this stance. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communique, the invitation must be rescinded."The US state department backed this stance. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "If Iran does not fully and publicly accept the Geneva communique, the invitation must be rescinded."
Britain and France echoed this line, saying Iran must make it clear that it supports the formation of a transitional government before it can attend.Britain and France echoed this line, saying Iran must make it clear that it supports the formation of a transitional government before it can attend.
"Iran must now clarify that they accept the basis of the secretary-general's invitation. This makes it clear that the only basis for anyone to attend Geneva II is to implement in full the June 2012 Geneva communique, calling for mutually-agreed political transition," a foreign office spokesman said. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Iran must now clarify that they accept the basis of the secretary general's invitation. This makes it clear that the only basis for anyone to attend Geneva II is to implement in full the June 2012 Geneva communique, calling for mutually agreed political transition."
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said participation in the talks amounted to an acceptance of a transitional government. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said participation in the talks amounted to an acceptance of a transitional government.
Ban said he had spoken at length to Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in recent days and that he believed Tehran supported the 2012 plan. Ban said he had spoken at length to Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in recent days and he believed Tehran supported the 2012 plan. He said he expected Iran to issue a statement soon in response to his invitation.
Ban said he expected Iran would issue a statement soon in response to his invitation.