Syria Says U.S. Created "Negative Climate" In Geneva

[pampango]

2. The UN mediator seems to disagree.

U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi apologized to the Syrian people for failing to reach progress.

Brahimi explained to reporters in Geneva that the second round of talks ended Saturday with the Syrian government refusing to discuss how to create a transitional government body, as the opposition and its Western backers insist.

Ending violence and combating terrorism had been the main thrust of the government's stance in Geneva, and both were put up for discussions.

"Unfortunately the government has refused, which raises the suspicion of the opposition that in fact the government doesn't want to discuss the TGB (transitional governing body) at all," Brahimi said.