Syrian Opposition Groups Divided Over Moscow Peace Talks

By The Associated Press

Jan. 11, 2015

A Syrian opposition group says it will attend a proposed peace conference in Moscow later this month, saying the conference offers "a glimpse of hope" to end Syria's civil war.

Saturday's announcement by the Popular Front of Change and Liberation of former Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil came a day after leading opposition politician Mouaz al-Khatib declined to go to Moscow.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said last month that it hoped to host peace talks after Jan. 20 between the Syrian government and the fractured opposition. Syria's government, headed by embattled President Bashar Assad, had said it is prepared to participate.

Syria's nearly four-year conflict has killed over 200,000 people. It also gave birth to the Islamic State group, which now controls a third of Syria and neighboring Iraq.

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