Dozens dead in Syria strikes as opposition chiefs leave talks

Suspected government air strikes have killed at least 44 civilians at markets in north-western Syria, as opposition chiefs say they are leaving peace talks in Geneva because of such attacks.

In some of the deadliest violence since a ceasefire took effect in February, a suspected regime bombing raid hit a market in the city of Maaret al-Numan, killing at least 37 civilians, a monitor said.

Footage showed bloodied bodies scattered among twisted metal stalls in a street strewn with fruit and vegetables.

Another strike on a fish market in the nearby town of Kafranbel killed seven civilians, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group.

The US State Department said the attacks were most likely from Syrian government forces.

The strikes were in Idlib province, which is under the control of Al Qaeda's Syrian offshoot Al Nusra Front.

Like the Islamic State group, Al Nusra is excluded from the ceasefire and regime forces have continued offensives in areas under its control.

The main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) condemned the strike at Maaret al-Numan as a "massacre" and clear violation of the truce.

"It is a dangerous escalation of an already fragile situation, showing contempt for the whole international community at a time when there is supposed to be a cessation of hostilities," HNC spokesman Salem al-Meslet said.

The raid was "Assad's response" to the HNC's decision to suspend its formal participation in negotiations, he added.

"Our decision to postpone our participation in the Geneva talks was taken to highlight the cynicism of the regime in pretending to negotiate while escalating the violence … The world must not ignore this challenge," Mr Meslet said.
UN insists talks are proceeding

The troubled talks — the latest in a long series of efforts to end Syria's five-year conflict — failed to get off the ground this week despite hopes brought on by the ceasefire.
The partial truce, brokered by the United States and Russia, led to a dramatic drop in violence across Syria but a recent surge in fighting, especially around the country's second city Aleppo, has raised fears of its total collapse.

The opposition announced on Monday it was putting its participation in the talks on hold to protest escalating violence and restrictions on humanitarian access in Syria.

HNC coordinator Riyad Hijab told journalists that he and other delegates were beginning to leave Geneva.

"I will be travelling today along with some of my colleagues from the HNC," Mr Hijab said.

"Some people left yesterday and today and they will keep leaving gradually until Friday.

"We will not accept negotiations while our people are still suffering."

The United Nations has insisted the talks have not collapsed, with UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura saying they would continue through the week.

He said the indirect talks format — which has seen the HNC and Mr Assad's representatives meet separately with UN mediators — created flexibility to continue the discussions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also insisted the negotiations were "not frozen" and slammed the main opposition chiefs for walking out.

This week's talks are meant to focus on Syria's political future, as the UN pushes a plan involving a transitional authority, a new constitution and eventual elections.
Source: AFP