France: Assad advance on rebel bastion threatens peace talks

The Syrian opposition will likely boycott proposed peace talks with President Bashar Assad's government unless its forces halt their advance towards the rebel stronghold of Aleppo, France said on Wednesday.

"We must stop this advance," Fabius said on France 2 television. "We must stop this because if the balance in the situation on the ground is not restored, then there will not be a conference in Geneva. The opposition won't agree to come." (Reuters)