Astana talks marred by Syrian armed opposition boycott
Astana talks marred by Syrian armed opposition boycott Days after a high-level meeting between Russia and Turkey, Syria’s armed opposition refuse to attend new round of talks. Istanbul, Turkey - The first day of the Astana talks on the six-year-old Syrian war wrapped up without the participation of the armed opposition. Mohamed Alloush, the head of the Syrian opposition delegation at the first round of talks, told Al Jazeera that the decision to boycott was taken because their demands were not being addressed. "The Russians did not abide by their promises. They didn't release prisoners, they didn't stop the bombing, they didn't stop the forced displacement," Aloush said. Abdul Majeed Barakat, political adviser to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions involved in the Turkey-backed Euphrates Shield Operation in northern Syria , told Al Jazeera that the opposition was not clear on what the plans were for this round of talks in Kazakhsta...