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Syrian troops march past a portrait of Bashar al-Assad. Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

Syrian rebels and opposition reject Russia's peace talk plan

They say that Moscow has failed to pressure Bashar Assad, to end the conflict.

RUSSIAN REBELS AND opposition have rejected Russia’s proposed peace talks, accusing Moscow of failing to pressure its ally, President Bashar Assad, to end the conflict.

In a series of statements, 40 rebel groups, including some of Syria’s most prominent, as well as political opposition groups, said the talks expected next month are an attempt to “circumvent” the U.N.-led process, which has made virtually no progress since it began in 2014.

The rebel groups said Moscow has asked them to give up their demand for Assad to step down.

“We reject this, and we affirm that Russia is an aggressor that has committed war crimes against Syrians,” the statement signed by 40 rebel groups said. “Russia has not contributed with a single move to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and it has not pressured the regime it claims it guarantees to move an inch toward any real path toward a resolution.”

The rebel groups, including Ahrar al-Sham, Army of Islam, and a number of Free Syrian Army groups, said they are committed to the U.N.-led Geneva process, and called on the international community to end the bloodshed, now in its seventh year. Political opposition groups and governing bodies in rebel-held areas have also rejected Russia’s proposed talks.

The talks are scheduled for 29 and 30 January in Sochi, and were announced after talks among Russia and Iran, which back the government, and Turkey, which supports the opposition.

Syria’s government said it would attend the talks. Assad told reporters recently that the Sochi talks have a clear agenda of discussing new elections and possibly amending the constitution.

The fate of Assad has been the main point of contention in all previous rounds of talks. The opposition has long called for a transitional period in which Assad would have no role, something the government refuses to even consider.

The Sochi talks would open up a fourth track of talks between parties to the complex conflict. The U.N.’s own Geneva program has been supplemented by “technical” talks in Astana brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Russia periodically opens a third track through Cairo. Egypt has provided a base for Syrian reformists seen as acceptable to the Damascus government.

It’s not yet clear who will attend the Sochi talks.

Turkey has said the Syrian Kurdish group known as the PYD, which governs around 25 percent of Syria’s territory and wants autonomous rule, should not be invited. Russia said last week that Kurdish representatives would attend, but that it would not invite the PYD.

Russia’s air campaign in Syria, which began in September 2015, helped turn the tide of the civil war in favor of Assad. Earlier this month, Putin announced a partial pullout of troops from Syria, but Russia is determined to maintain its military presence there.

Localised cease-fire agreements brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey have reduced the violence across much of Syria, but the government has kept up pressure on insurgents on the outskirts of Damascus and in the northwestern rebel-held Idlib province.

Read: RTÉ’s Tony Connelly on Brexit leaks: ‘If you suppress a paper you’ve been given, you’re crossing a line’

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:47 PM

    Sounds like another pseudo liberal like Clinton. Hopefully Sanders will win the nomination this time and finally put an end to this Trump circus of ignorance, sexism and racism.

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    Mute bopter
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:06 PM

    Think he’s aiming for a Sanders – Bloomberg or Biden – Bloomberg ticket.

    15
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    Mute Caoimhín O Neill
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    Nov 24th 2019, 6:52 PM

    @Rónán Strain: you forgot jobs, wealth, zero wars, boosted economy too

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:08 PM

    @Caoimhín O Neill: you forgot being a russian puupet

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    Mute Obama
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    Nov 25th 2019, 10:02 AM

    @Rónán Strain: sexism and racism ? It’s funny how he wasn’t known for any of those things until he ran as a Republican. Stop watching CNN and read up on actual information.

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    Mute Peter D W Clancy
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    Nov 25th 2019, 11:43 AM

    @Obama: Trump has always had a questionable character. He just used his presidential platform to let the world and all in the universe know all about what he really is.

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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:49 PM

    The weekend Sanders takes poll position. The establishment are shaking.

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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:09 PM

    @Carlin Ite: Do you have to be 77 to go for this job.

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    Mute Burn_the_Witch
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:07 PM

    @Carlin Ite: Sanders can be bought by the establishment. He’s already proven it by laying over on his back for Clinton in 2016.

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:17 PM

    @Burn_the_Witch: Better than committing treason and being bought by Russia…

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    Mute D H
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:25 PM

    @Joe Johnson: at least…. Closer to 80 if possible

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    Mute kenneth clohessy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 8:28 PM

    @Rónán Strain: Sanders is a commie

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:11 PM

    @kenneth clohessy: He obviously isn’t but i suppose accuracy would not be something expected of your ilk

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    Mute Oonaghx
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    Nov 25th 2019, 12:55 AM

    @Rónán Strain: do you have proof of that Ronan? or are you just going to be repetitive with that nonsense?

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    Mute Gandelow
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    Nov 25th 2019, 6:34 AM

    @kenneth clohessy: so was Jesus if you apply that theory

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    Mute Rocky Rocks
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:27 PM

    Hopefully President Trump gets 4 more years.

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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:48 PM

    @Rocky Rocks: 4 years in jail would be good for him.

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    Mute LynchTrea
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    Nov 24th 2019, 7:05 PM

    @Al Fresco: too good

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:45 PM

    I really wish the Democrats had at least one candidate strong enough to depose the orange one. Instead of a crowded field of people whom don’t come across that great (I could be very wrong). A bit like Labour in England at the moment, missing a perfect opportunity to get rid of BOJO but Corbyn is just not good enough.

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    Mute Francis Tuffy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:34 PM

    @Declan Moran: Yeah, although 11 candidates have dropped out, there’s still a whopping 14 in the running currently, they need to get down to 4 max., Biden, Warren, Bloomberg and Sanders maybe.

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    Mute Mjhint
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:28 PM

    I’m doubtful that the American revolution envisaged these types of oligarchs running the USA particularly when they steal the American dream for those it was meant to liberate.

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    Mute Tim McCormack29
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:49 PM

    @Mjhint: yes. Israel loves Trump and they will love Bloomberg as one of their own even more.

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    Mute Stevie Doran
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:36 PM

    Any candidates under 75 years old?

    36
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:24 PM

    Time to feel the bern !!

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:19 PM

    Bloomberg heading straight for Iceberg!

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:38 PM

    Bloomberg, probably the worst candidate in the world

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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:19 PM

    @WreckDefier: have you had a look at what else is out there? Trump is going to offer his disservices again, ” Anyone but Trump”

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:43 PM

    @John Smith: if Moscow doesnt interfere this time, he doesnt stand a chance.

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    Mute Pádraig Healy
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    Nov 25th 2019, 8:00 PM

    @Rónán Strain: still peddling that hoax eh? You’re propping up a lot in these comment sections of late, are you being paid to post all these comments or are you just in need of some employment and have too much time on your hands?

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    Mute Edmund Murphy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:37 PM

    If he wants an ego trip and to be loved by America he should just write every person living in America a cheque for $160. He would still be a billionare after. That’s how obscenely, immorally wealthy he is.

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    Mute bmul
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:43 PM

    Self made

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    Mute Barry
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:20 PM

    @bmul: he’s actually rich and is good at business unlike trump

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    Mute Mary Cull
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:56 PM

    @Barry: He is deep state fighting back. The swamp will never be drained.

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    Mute Francis Tuffy
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:32 PM

    @Mary Cull: Jesus, if there was such a thing as an all-powerful ‘Deep State’, do you think they’d allow someone as out of control as Trump get elected?

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    Mute Rónán Strain
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:38 PM

    @Mary Cull: The deep state…….jaysus, Best for you to stay off the internet for a while i think:p

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    Mute Burn_the_Witch
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    Nov 24th 2019, 10:48 PM

    @Francis Tuffy: The ‘deep state’ is nothing new or not believable. It’s just a bunch of senior career civil servants spread out across the Government. The only reason you’re hearing about them now is because they’ve been fighting Trump tooth and nail for the past nearly four years. A bunch of bureaucrats pulling in the big bucks from where they shouldn’t, who don’t like an outsider getting in the way. Simples.

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    Mute Al Fresco
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:15 PM

    Anyone but Trump!

    10
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    Mute Chris O'Sullivan
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:18 PM

    For the man who has everything why not buy yourself a presidency this Christmas lol

    11
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    Mute james r
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:39 PM

    Way to old …

    8
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    Mute Kevin Barry
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:17 PM

    Devon Nune’s cow is going to declare next Wednesday.

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    Mute Tim McCormack29
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    Nov 24th 2019, 5:38 PM

    Wouldn’t trust another billionaire from New York to be President of the United States..

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 24th 2019, 4:19 PM

    ABT

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Nov 24th 2019, 9:13 PM

    It’s not too long ago that 70 + year olds were keen to take life easier, slow things down a little, do some fishing, play more golf, spend some time with the grand-kids, go on a cruise, even get ready, spiritually, for the next world.

    Not anymore, it seems! Pelosi, Biden, Clinton, Saunders, Trump, Ross, and now Bloomberg…all rearing to jump into/ stay in the political swamp for more punishment. No official retiring for these guys!

    7
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    Mute CAMILA REMONA
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    Nov 24th 2019, 3:58 PM

    Well isn’t that blooming marvellous for him …

    5
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    Mute John Smith
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    Nov 24th 2019, 7:50 PM

    What happened to the comments I wrote?

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    Mute Micheál
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    Nov 24th 2019, 7:00 PM

    Only a physical force communistic revolution of the working class will change the US, and hence the world.
    And it will happen!
    Ádh mór don lucht oibre!

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    Mute Cillian Leahy
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    Nov 25th 2019, 3:50 PM

    An easy reelection for Trump so

    2
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