The UN said Tuesday (March 21st) that Syrian regime and opposition delegations have confirmed their attendance at peace talks set to resume in Geneva this week, despite renewed fighting around Damascus, AFP reported.
"All invitees who had already attended the previous round of talks in February 2017 have confirmed their participation", UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said.
She said UN mediator Staffan de Mistura was currently visiting key powers shaping the conflict -- including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey -- before returning to Geneva to lead the talks.
Some opposition camps refused to attend separate negotiations in Kazakhstan last week to protest violations of a shaky ceasefire by the Syrian regime.
Damascus has been the scene of heavy fighting in recent days, with opposition fighters and extremists making large incursions into the east of the Syrian capital, and the regime responding with airstrikes on opposition positions.
