AMMAN - The chief peace negotiator of Syria's mainstream opposition said on Sunday he was resigning over the failure of the UN- backed Geneva peace talks to bring a political settlement and to ease the plight of Syrians living in besieged rebel-held areas. Mohammed Alloush, who is also the representative of the powerful Jaish al Islam rebel faction in the Saudi-based High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said in a statement sent to Reuters that the peace talks had also failed to secure the release of thousands of detainees or to push Syria towards a political transition without President Bashar al Assad. The UN-backed parties have not set a date for the resumption of the peace talks after the HNC suspended their participation until the situation on the ground has radically changed.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)