Syria opposition groups divided over Geneva 2 conference

Divisions are growing among Syria opposition groups over participation in the forthcoming international conference in Geneva which aims to end the conflict in the Arab country.

On Sunday, the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC) wrapped up talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul with little sign of a common approach to bring all sides to the negotiating table.

Some members of the coalition say the divisions are caused by competition for influence among regional supporters of the opposition.

The divided SNC has been holding meetings in Istanbul since May 23 to work out its stance on the Geneva 2 conference.

On the first day of the talks, SNC spokesman Khaled Saleh said he would not attend the conference without indication that Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is stepping down.

The top commander of foreign-backed militants in Syria, Brigadier General Salim Idris, has also said that he would not attend Geneva 2 unless the United States and its allies provided the militants in Syria with anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

On May 7, Russia and the United States agreed in Moscow to convene an international conference on Syria, which will serve as a follow-up to an earlier Geneva meeting held in June 2012.