Geneva peace talks begin without Syrian regime

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

An eighth round of Syria peace talks began on Tuesday in Geneva involving a united opposition delegation; a Bashar al-Assad regime team is expected to join discussions on Wednesday.

The Syrian opposition asked major powers to pressure the Assad regime to take part.

There is only one opposition delegation in the peace talks in Geneva which represents all anti-regime groups in Syria.

Nasr al-Hariri, head of the opposition delegation, met UN Special Envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura. A meeting involving the whole delegation will take place later.

The opposition wants the regime to participate in negotiations on a political transition, a new constitution and elections.

Hariri reiterated that the opposition delegation was aiming for Bashar al-Assad's removal.

"The government delegation should come ready to negotiate," de Mistura said Monday at a briefing from Geneva to the UN Security Council.