The strikes, identified as Russian by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, occurred as a U.N. envoy visited Damascus.
BEIRUT, Jan 9 (Reuters) - An air strike reportedly killed dozens of
people in a rebel-held town in Syria on Saturday as a U.N. envoy visited
Damascus to advance preparations for peace talks planned this month
despite opposition misgivings.
Agreement was also reached for aid to be delivered on Monday to an
opposition-held town besieged by pro-government forces where United
Nations says there have been credible reports of people dying of
starvation, sources said. Aid will be sent simultaneously to two
villages blockaded by rebels.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 57 people were
killed in the air strike, which hit a court house and prison in the town
of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province. It identified the jets as
Russian, and said the court house was operated by the al Qaeda-linked
Nusra Front.
Russia has been staging air strikes in Syria in support of President
Bashar al-Assad since September. The building was struck with four
missiles. The dead included 23 members of the Nusra Front, three women
and at least one child, the Observatory said.
Syrian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The war has raged on since
last month when the Security Council endorsed a plan for peace talks, a
rare case of U.S.-Russian agreement over a conflict that has killed
250,000 people. The talks are due to begin on Jan. 25 in Geneva.
The Syrian government told U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura on Saturday it was ready to participate but wants to know who would take part from the opposition, Syrian state media reported.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem also said it was important to see a list of groups that would be classified as terrorists as part of the new diplomatic process, flagging another potential complication.
Damascus views all the groups fighting to topple Assad as terrorists, including rebels who support a political solution and are represented in a recently formed opposition council tasked with overseeing the negotiations.
A statement from de Mistura's office described Saturday's meeting as useful and said the envoy had outlined preparations.
"The Special Envoy is looking forward to the active participation of relevant parties in the Geneva talks. He will be continuing his consultations in the region," it added.
The Syrian government told U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura on Saturday it was ready to participate but wants to know who would take part from the opposition, Syrian state media reported.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem also said it was important to see a list of groups that would be classified as terrorists as part of the new diplomatic process, flagging another potential complication.
Damascus views all the groups fighting to topple Assad as terrorists, including rebels who support a political solution and are represented in a recently formed opposition council tasked with overseeing the negotiations.
A statement from de Mistura's office described Saturday's meeting as useful and said the envoy had outlined preparations.
"The Special Envoy is looking forward to the active participation of relevant parties in the Geneva talks. He will be continuing his consultations in the region," it added.
Syrian rebels and opposition
politicians have expressed doubts over whether the peace talks will
begin as planned. Their concerns over the diplomatic bid include the
absence of any mention of Assad's fate.
Earlier this week, they told de Mistura that before negotiations the
Syrian government must stop bombing civilian areas, release detainees
and lift blockades imposed on opposition-held areas.
AID DELIVERY AGREED FOR MONDAY
"Can the international community achieve the implementation of this
pre-negotiation stage in the few remaining days? If it can, there is no
problem. But I doubt they can," Riyad Naasan Agha, a member of the
opposition council, told Reuters.
Another opposition official said on Friday the opposition would not name its negotiating team until the government did so. The outlook for the talks has been further clouded by increased
tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back opposing sides in the
conflict. Tensions have risen since Saudi Arabia executed Shi'ite
cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
The aid deal agreed on Saturday will result in humanitarian supplies
being sent to the opposition-held town of Madaya at the Lebanese border,
and to two villages in the northwestern province of Idlib that are
blockade by rebels.
Aid agencies have warned of widespread starvation in Madaya, where
some 40,000 people are at risk. The United Nations said on Thursday that
Damascus had agreed to allow access to all three areas, but did not say
when the delivery would take place.
"Both date and time have been set. Aid will go to three towns on
Monday morning, all at the same time," said a source familiar with the
matter. A second, pro-Syrian government source confirmed the details.
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