Syria peace talks marred by boycott -- and sieges
The Syria peace talks are due to start this morning in Geneva.
But the main opposition group, the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC), has said that it will not attend unless steps are taken to address humanitarian needs by ending air strikes and sieges.
Reuters reported late on Jan. 28 that the HNC, which met in Riyadh, said its delegation would "certainly" not be in Geneva today, because it had not received convincing answers to it demands.
The BBC reports this morning that UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura plans to go ahead with what he has called "proximity" talks with the Syrian government.
In an earlier analysis this morning, the BBC noted that:
The opposition fighters, and their international backers, appear very divided.
The intense wrangling over who should, and should not, be entitled to represent the opposition has been a major factor delaying, even threatening, the Geneva talks.
TIME has a quote from Noah Bonsey of the International Crisis Group, who said that the humanitarian situation in Syria put the opposition in a difficult position, particularly as the Syrian government -- backed by Russian air power and logistical support -- has managed to claw back rebel-held ground in various areas, including in Latakia province and the southern province of Daraa.
"It’s just a very negative environment for the opposition negotiating committee to be trying to sell to the opposition base the value of participation in talks," says Bonsey.
"It’s very difficult to imagine serious concessions being considered really by either side, but in particular the regime side, given the military momentum they have."
Still starving
As doubt looms over the Syria peace talks, the Wall Street Journal points out that Syrian civilians in besieged areas are still facing starvation, as the Syrian government escalated its use of blockades ahead of the talks to try to gain more territory.
The government’s siege tactics have become more systematic and have escalated over the past two months, part of an overall military effort to secure more territory and strengthen the government’s hand ahead of United Nations-brokered peace talks set to begin in Geneva on Friday, Western diplomats, aid officials and Syrian rebels say.
AFP's Maya Gebeily is in Geneva to report on the Syria peace talks and tweets these updates:
Russia Denies Reports That 'Terrorists' Responsible For Sinai Plane Crash Identified
Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee has denied reports that "terrorists" responsible for the downing of a Russian passenger plane over the Sinai peninsula have been identified.
The Airbus A321 crashed in Sinai on October 31, killing all 224 people on board.
"The most important thing is that the FSB does not have any confirmation on what was reported yesterday," NAC spokesman Evgeny Ilin told Interfax.
The LifeNews tabloid reported yesterday that Egyptian and Russian intelligence services had identified "several terrorists who were directly involved in preparing the terrorist act" that brought down the plane.
LifeNews said that six individuals had been placed on a wanted list and that the man responsible for placing a bomb on the aircraft had later gone to Turkey.
Another update on the Syria peace talks.
Iran coercing thousands of Afghans to fight in Syria, HRW say
Iran has recruited thousands of Afghans, some via coercion, to fight in Syria alongside forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Human Rights Watch has said.
"Iran has not just offered Afghan refugees and migrants incentives to fight in Syria, but several said they were threatened with deportation back to Afghanistan unless they did," said Peter Bouckaert, HRW's emergencies director.
AFP reports:
Tehran says its Fatemiyoun Brigade, comprised of Afghan recruits, are volunteers to defend sacred Shi'ite sites in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists like those of the Islamic State group.
The brigade, which is backed by the powerful Revolutionary Guards, is named after the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed whose mausoleum near Damascus is venerated by Shi'ites.
Syrian opposition resumes discussions in Riyadh on whether it should attend talks
Members of the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee met today in Riyadh to continue discussions about whether they should attend peace talks in Geneva, AFP reports.
The HNC has said that it will not attend the talks unless its demands for an end to bombardments and blockades of civilian areas are met.
"Tomorrow we won't be in Geneva. We could go there, but we will not enter the negotiating room if our demands aren't met," HNC coordinator Riad Hijab told Al-Arabiya television late Thursday, according to AFP.
EgyptAir mechanic suspected of planting bomb on Russian plane: Reuters
More developments in the story of the identities of those responsible for the downing of the Russian MetroJet flight over Sinai.
Reuters is citing "sources familiar with the matter" -- likely Egyptian, not Russian -- as saying that an EgyptAir mechanic whose cousin joined the IS group in Syria is suspected of planting a bomb on the plane.
But the sources, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, said the mechanic had been detained, along with two airport policemen and a baggage handler suspected of helping him put the bomb on board.
"After learning that one of its members had a relative that worked at the airport, Islamic State delivered a bomb in a handbag to that person," said one of the sources, adding the suspect's cousin joined Islamic State in Syria a year and a half ago.
"He was told to not ask any questions and get the bomb on the plane."
This morning, Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee (NAC) said that the FSB would not confirm a LifeNews report that said several individuals behind the plane crash had been identified including one man who was directly responsible.
LifeNews is a tabloid with ties to Russia's intelligence services.
Meanwhile, Egypt has publicly said that it has found no evidence so far that the plane was downed by terrorists -- an announcement that angered Russia.
IS has claimed responsibility for the attack in an article in its magazine, Dabiq.
3 dead in shooting at Shi'ite mosque in Saudi Arabia
Three people have been killed and others wounded in a shooting at a Shi'ite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, security officials and a witness have said, AP is reporting.
Shi'ites in Saudi Arabia have previously been targeted by the IS group.
Syria talks start today but UN can't say who with, where or when: Reuters
UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi has told a UN briefing this morning that Syria peace talks will start as planned this morning in Geneva.
But there is no information about who will turn up or when talks would start.
"They will start as planned, but I don't have a time, I don't have a location and I can't tell you anything about the delegations ... later this morning we will have more news," Fawzi said. "There will be, I know, a statement made later today by the office of the special envoy."
"I can't give you a time, I can't give you a who, where, when," he said.