Russia expects Syrian government to attend Geneva peace talks next week

[Lodestar]

Source: Reuters

President Bashar al-Assad's government has said its delegates will attend peace talks on the Syrian conflict due to start in Geneva next week, Russia's foreign ministry said on Friday.

Damascus has yet to publicly confirm it will be taking part in the talks.

Asked whether Russia, a close ally of Assad, was encouraging Damascus to attend, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "They're not refusing."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-talks-russia-idUSKCN0WD0W4