Syria’s main opposition group to attend peace talks

The main, western-backed Syrian opposition group has voted in favour of attending next week’s peace conference aimed at ending the country’s bloody civil war.

The Syrian National Coalition’s media office said that of 73 voters, 58 voted in favour of attending the conference.

The coalition was under huge pressure from its Western and Arab sponsors to attend the peace talks, scheduled to open on Wednesday in the Swiss city of Montreux.

Many coalition members were hesitant to attend a conference that has little chance of success and will burn the last shred of credibility the group has with powerful rebels on the ground, who reject the talks.

The Syrian government has already said it will attend the talks.

AP