Meslet confirmed to Sputnik that the special envoy used the gavel during a meeting. Another member of the delegation, who preferred to stay unnamed, said de Mistura banged it on the table just at the moment when the delegation was traditionally complaining about the "regime's atrocities."
A source that was present at de Mistura's meeting with Damascus delegation said that the special envoy used the gavel when he heard the traditional accusation from the government delegation of a "lack of patriotism" from the side of the opposition.
Such methods of de Mistura, who has always been over-diplomatic and gentle, confused the negotiators. The government delegation head noted that de Mistura treats them "as schoolboys," while the HNC team asked the envoy who gave him the right to be a judge, according to the source.
The sixth round of intra-Syrian talks began in Geneva on Tuesday. The negotiations held under the auspices of the UN brought together representatives of the Syrian government, as well as different opposition groups.
