Syrian authorities insist on no direct talk with opposition
The Latest on developments in Syria and the latest round of indirect peace talks in Geneva (all times local):
The Syrian government's top envoy to the U.N.-mediated peace talks in Geneva says his team has not been asked to meet face-to-face with the opposition.
Bashar al-Ja'afari spoke to reporters after his final meeting with U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura as this seventh round of indirect talks involving the warring sides since early last year was coming to a close on Friday.
Ja'afari alluded to foreign backers of the main opposition, like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as smaller opposition factions.
He says that the "most important thing is for us (government) to have a national partner, and not a client for foreign agendas."
A day earlier, de Mistura acknowledged that he was not "pushing" for the opposition and government delegations to meet directly until they could engage in "real" talks.
Source: Reuters
