Intra-Syrian Talks May Collapse in Coming Days

A source close to the intra-Syrian talks called the situation with the negotiations "very fragile" and said that next days may lead to a collapse of the talks.

GENEVA (Sputnik) — Intra-Syrian talks may collapse in the coming days as the situation at the Geneva negotiations is fragile, a source close to the talks told Sputnik Tuesday.

"The situation is very fragile. Everyone understands that talks may collapse on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The next days are crucial," the source said.

The source added that a bilateral meeting between the US and Russian representatives might be held in the coming days, but not at the ministerial level.

The source cited a "tactical error" made by opposition delegates formed in Riyadh for setting preconditions in the run-up to the talks, despite UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura explicitly dismissing any preconditions before or throughout the talks.

De Mistura met with the Riyadh-backed delegates, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), on Monday, marking a formal start of intra-Syrian talks in line with the UN Security Council resolution seeking to bring the sides to the table.

A group of opposition delegates formed after talks in Moscow and Riyadh are scheduled to meet de Mistura on Wednesday.