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1st LD Writethru: UN chief slams deadly bombing in Damascus, urges progress in Geneva talks

Xinhua, February 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday condemned the deadly triple bombing near a shrine in southern Damascus, urging progress in peace talks ongoing in Geneva.

Ban slammed the "heinous" attacks, which hit near the Sayyidah Zaynab shrine in southern Damascus on Sunday and killed over 60 people.

"Those responsible for such attacks on civilians must be held accountable," Ban said in a statement, noting the attacks were claimed by the extremist group Islamic States (IS).

The deadly attacks coincided with the start of the Syrian peace talks in Geneva.

Ban stressed that the Syrian people expected to see "credible negotiations" in Geneva, adding that "they deserve more than the false choice between extremism and repression."

"It is essential that the representatives of the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition agree on immediate improvements to Syria's dire humanitarian situation, a political transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, and a parallel ceasefire," he added.

Ban called on all Syrian parties to "seize this rare diplomatic opportunity" and the international community to push for progress in humanitarian access, release of detainees and immediate ceasefire.

The UN-brokered Syrian peace talks began Friday in Geneva. Led by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, the talks are expected to last six months, with an aim to end Syria's five-year war.

On Monday, the UN envoy announced the "official" start of the Geneva intra-Syrian talks, following his first formal meeting with the main opposition umbrella group in Geneva. Enditem