Syrian gov't delegation calls for taking anti-terrorism as top priority in Geneva talks

A top diplomat from Syrian government delegation Saturday called for taking combating terrorism as a top priority in the ongoing intra-Syrian negotiations.

The words came after two suicide attacks took place in Syria's central province of Homs, killing at least 42 people on the same day.

"Combating terrorism is a top priority, " UN Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar Jaafari, who led the Syrian government delegation, told reporters following a 2.5 hour meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura.

"We request Mr. De Mistura to issue a statement condemning the suicide attacks," he said, adding that they will also request the special envoy to ask all the parties participating into the Geneva process to make the same statement condemning the attacks.

He said the attacks aimed to "derail the Geneva talks" and cast a shadow in Geneva, adding that "any party who refuses to condemn the attacks, we will consider that party to be accomplice of terrorism."

Mediated by the UN, Syrian government and opposition delegation joined the latest round of talks since Thursday which aimed at bringing Syria's six-year-old crisis to an end.

Since the Syria conflict began in March 2011, an estimated 400,000 people have lost their lives, with millions more forced to flee their homes. Endit