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Syrian opposition accuses gov't, Russian actions as threat to current peace talks

Xinhua, February 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

An official of the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) told press on Tuesday that actions carried out by both the Syrian government and Russia are threatening intra-Syrians talks attempting to broker peace for the country at war since 2011.

"Last night and today we are receiving reports of massive escalation of Russian and regime military aggression on Aleppo and Homs, including attacks on hospitals and critical infrastructure. The target as always are overwhelmingly civilians," the official said in a statement made under the emblematic chair adjacent to the Palais des Nations.

"In his letter to the HNC, UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura stated clearly that paragraphs 12 and 13 of the UN Security Council resolution 2254 are non-negotiable," she added.

These paragraphs call for the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid throughout Syria as well as a cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian objects.

"The regime's and Russia's actions gravely threaten the political process. We need the international community to take immediate, serious and clear steps to ensure the credibility of this process," the opposition delegate concluded.

Estimates reveal that 250,000 Syrian people have died in the five years since the war started and that more than 4 million people have fled the Middle Eastern country as a result of a protracted political crisis pitching Syrian president Bashar al-Assad against anti-government forces, with terrorist factions such as the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Nusra also in the mix.

An additional 6.5 million have been internally displaced by conflict and 13.5 million people inside the country are in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

Proximity talks will not only aim to discuss governance, constitutional change and the holding of elections but also address the implementation of a lasting ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the possibility of stopping the threat of IS. Endit