(Zaman Al Wasl)- Key Syrian rebel groups on Friday have intensified their discussions in Turkish capital over participation in Syria's peace talks that would be held in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Jan. 23, amid reports of Turkish pressure on rebels to lessen demands, commanders and activists said.
Mustafa Seijari, senior commander said the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered his support to rebels via his Intelligence head Hakan Fidan, who stepped up pressure on rebels to go to the talks.
The commanders affirmed on the leading role of powerful Ahrar al-Sham movement in the ongoing talks, saying they will not carry the burden of any consequences if the negotiations fail.
Ahrar's military spokesman Abu Yousef al-Mohajer said the movement refused to sign the the proposed draft by rebels to attend Astana talks, saying Ahrar la-Sham is not convinced of the usefulness of the talks. "what is happening now is a waste of time and effort,'' he added.
On Thursday, the armed opposition submitted a draft of four points to Turkey, demanding an immediate halt to the regime’s attacks on civilians and to stop committing ceasefire violations in the Wadi Barada region west of capital Damascus.
Senior commander in Liwaa al-Mu'tasim rebel group told Zaman al-Wasl the draft stated that neutral observers or monitors are needed to watch out the ceasefire, especially at the demarcation lines.
Meanwhile, the United States has not received a formal invitation to Syria peace talks, the U.S. State Department said Friday.
"To my knowledge we have not received ... a formal invitation to the talks," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at a daily briefing.
Syrian regime and rebel forces started a ceasefire on Dec. 30 as a first step towards face-to face negotiations.
Riyad Hijab, chief coordinator for Syria’s opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling on the world body to demand an immediate halt to the regime’s "indiscriminate attacks" on civilians in Wadi Barada.
The United Nations had previously led talks in Geneva, but after several fruitless rounds and an escalation of violence in the six-year civil war that has benefited Bashar al-Assad and his backers, Moscow and Ankara agreed in December to launch new peace efforts.
Moscow has said the proposed Astana talks would complement the United Nations. However, European diplomats and opposition sources have suggested only some armed groups will be invited with political opposition representation limited despite discussions on aspects such as the constitution.
More than 430,000 people have been killed and around 13 million people have been displaced since 2011. (With agencies)
Mustafa Seijari, senior commander said the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered his support to rebels via his Intelligence head Hakan Fidan, who stepped up pressure on rebels to go to the talks.
The commanders affirmed on the leading role of powerful Ahrar al-Sham movement in the ongoing talks, saying they will not carry the burden of any consequences if the negotiations fail.
Ahrar's military spokesman Abu Yousef al-Mohajer said the movement refused to sign the the proposed draft by rebels to attend Astana talks, saying Ahrar la-Sham is not convinced of the usefulness of the talks. "what is happening now is a waste of time and effort,'' he added.
On Thursday, the armed opposition submitted a draft of four points to Turkey, demanding an immediate halt to the regime’s attacks on civilians and to stop committing ceasefire violations in the Wadi Barada region west of capital Damascus.
Senior commander in Liwaa al-Mu'tasim rebel group told Zaman al-Wasl the draft stated that neutral observers or monitors are needed to watch out the ceasefire, especially at the demarcation lines.
Meanwhile, the United States has not received a formal invitation to Syria peace talks, the U.S. State Department said Friday.
"To my knowledge we have not received ... a formal invitation to the talks," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at a daily briefing.
Syrian regime and rebel forces started a ceasefire on Dec. 30 as a first step towards face-to face negotiations.
Riyad Hijab, chief coordinator for Syria’s opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling on the world body to demand an immediate halt to the regime’s "indiscriminate attacks" on civilians in Wadi Barada.
The United Nations had previously led talks in Geneva, but after several fruitless rounds and an escalation of violence in the six-year civil war that has benefited Bashar al-Assad and his backers, Moscow and Ankara agreed in December to launch new peace efforts.
Moscow has said the proposed Astana talks would complement the United Nations. However, European diplomats and opposition sources have suggested only some armed groups will be invited with political opposition representation limited despite discussions on aspects such as the constitution.
More than 430,000 people have been killed and around 13 million people have been displaced since 2011. (With agencies)
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