Sun Feb 14, 2016 20:21:58
A Saudi-backed so-called opposition group in Syria has criticized an international ceasefire plan for Syria that was reached recently in Munich.
Riad Hijab, the head of the Syrian opposition group known as the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said on Sunday that "we have gotten used to conferences and hope put into words but what we need is action.”
He also criticized Russia’s aerial campaign against Takfiri Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) militants, claiming, "The Syrian people continue to live in terror and utter despair after the international community has failed to prevent the gravest crimes."
The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) agreed on Friday to a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria and to implement a ceasefire in a week. The ISSG members also asked the UN to resume the collapsed peace talks between the Syrian government and HNC that would represent a number of opposition groups in upcoming talks.
The talks were suspended on February 3 after HNC refused to attend the sessions in Geneva. Its refusal came after the Syrian army, backed by the Russian air cover, made significant gains against Takfiri militants on several fronts, particularly in the strategic northern province of Aleppo.
Meanwhile, Israel’s war and military affairs minister, Moshe Yaalon, said he was pessimistic about the prospects of the Munich deal.
"I'm very pessimistic about a potential cessation of hostilities at the end of this week," he said.
Yaalon had also earlier criticized Russia’s airstrikes on militants’ positions in Syria. Syrian forces have cleared many areas from Takfiri militants with Russia's help.
The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, has claimed the lives of some 470,000 people, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research, Press TV reported.
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