Syrian Opposition Rejects Delay At Peace Talks Until April Election

Syria’s opposition has said at peace talks in Geneva that it rejects an attempt by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to delay the next round of UN-mediated peace talks until after parliamentary elections in Syria.

Salim al-Muslat, spokesman of the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), told reporters in Geneva on March 20 that his umbrella group was "for continuing the negotiations” and “won't accept a postponement to hold illegitimate elections."

Assad called in February for elections to be held on April 13.

Elections are meant to be held every four years in Syria and the last was in 2012.

Government and opposition negotiators have been holding separate talks in Geneva for the past week with United Nations special envoy Staffan de Mistura serving as a mediator.

De Mistura has said he plans to suspend the meetings on March 24 and resume a new round of indirect peace talks in Geneva in early April.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP