Syrian opposition calls for direct talks with government

Syrian opposition delegates have for the first time called for face-to face talks with government representatives ahead of negotiations which begin today in Geneva.

Previous negotiations have been conducted through a mediator in separate rooms..

The opposition spokesman, Salem al-Muslet said he did not want this round to be like the one a year ago which was fruitless.

The talks are the first UN mediated negotiations on Syria in almost a year, during which time the military situation has changed massively.

"We want to see real seriousness on the negotiations table, this is why we demand direct negotiations to save time because every day costs us and the Syrians more souls, famine and sieges."

'UN determined to keep proactive momentum' 

UN mediator Staffan de Mistura,has said that he was resolute on preserving a positive flow in the talks, while noting that he did not expect any immediate breakthroughs.

"I'm not expecting a breakthrough...But I am expecting and determined for keeping a very proactive momentum," he said.

De Mistura added that he sees the meetings as "the beginning of a series of rounds" that will allow its participants "go much more in depth on the substantive issues that are required for a political solution."

He added that the talks will be in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 aimed at ending the conflict in the Arab country.

The resolution, which was unanimously adopted in December 2015, aims to establish governance and come up with a new constitution."We will be very reluctant to engage in pre-conditions, and in fact I will be refusing them," the UN official added.

For nearly six years, Syria has been fighting foreign-sponsored militancy. The UN envoy estimated in August last year that more than 400,000 people had been killed in the crisis until then. The world body stopped its official casualty count in the war-torn country, citing its inability to verify the figures it received from various sources.

Meanwhile fighting is continuing between Syrian rebels and Islamist militants in the battle for the city of al Bab. It's the jihadists' stronghold 30 km from the Turkish border.Turkey claims to have killed 44 militants in operations around the city in airstrikes and clashes.

The self-styled Islamic State stronghold of al Bab has been a prime target since Turkey launched an incursion with Syrian rebels last August to push the jihadists from its frontier and prevent gains by a Kurdish militia.