Coordinator general of the Syrian negotiations commission Riyad Hejab has said the opposition decided to suspend the Geneva peace talks with the regime due to the soaring suffering of the Syrian people.

In a press conference in Geneva Tuesday, he said the Syrian people are still suffering from hunger, siege and shelling at the hands of the Syrian government forces and their allies.

He said the opposition had received guarantees on improving the conditions of the Syrians from United nations envoy Staffan de Mistura and countries supporting the political process including the United States but the sufferings of the Syrians got worse.

The Syrian opposition leader said no prisoners were released but rather 2044 persons including women and children were detained since the issuance of resolution 2254. 

Yesterday, Syrian opposition parties quit the Geneva talks, warning they will not return unless the Syrian regime became serious about a transfer of power and stops attacks on civilians.

Abdul Hakim Bashar, a member of the Syrian opposition at the peace talks said that the regime has taken no serious steps about a transfer of power.“It has increased violations against civilians by besieging 20 towns with the army,” he added.

Bashar insisted that "unless the government gives up on these violations, ceases tensions and improves humanitarian conditions in Syria, we will not be willing to resume meetings.

"He also explained that "the Syrian government has violated the International Security Council's resolution No. 2254.
UN resolution 2254 is meant to endorse a road map for a peace process in Syria by setting a timetable for talks.

Earlier, Bashar Jaafari, chief negotiator of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government at the Geneva talks, reacted to the suspension of the Syrian oppositions' participation at the talks by saying: "Damascus is participating in the Geneva talks in order to form a major coalition government under Bashar Assad

Source: MENA