France says Syrian government obstructing peace talks

PARIS – France accused the Syrian government on Wednesday of obstructing UN-led peace talks with its refusal to return to Geneva and called on Russia not to shirk its responsibilities to get Damascus to the negotiating table.

Talks on ending the war in Syria resumed on Wednesday, but with no sign of President Bashar al-Assad's negotiators returning to the table in Geneva.

The process began last week. But after a few days with little apparent progress, the UN mediator Staffan de Mistura said the Syrian government delegation led by Bashar al-Ja'afari was returning to Damascus to "consult and refresh".

"France condemns the absence of the delegation of the regime and its refusal to engage in good faith in the negotiations to achieve a political solution," French foreign ministry deputy spokesman Alexandre Georgini told reporters.