Summary
The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition ruled out even indirect negotiations with Damascus before steps including a halt to Russian airstrikes, contradicting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's insistence that talks will begin next week.
With the 5-year-old Syrian war showing no signs of ending, it looks increasingly uncertain that peace talks will begin as planned on Jan. 25 in Geneva, partly because of a dispute over the composition of the opposition delegation.
The Syrian government has said it is ready to take part in the Geneva talks on time.
Russia said the talks could be delayed until Jan. 27 or 28 because of the disagreement over who would represent the opposition.
Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim told Reuters that the Syrian Kurds must be represented at peace talks or they will fail.
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