(reuters) -- United Nations Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura said on Monday that the Syrian government had not yet confirmed that it would attend an eighth round of peace talks in Geneva this week, but "indicated that we would be hearing from them soon."

Al-Watan reported on Monday that the delegation had delayed its planned departure to the talks set to begin on Tuesday because of the opposition's insistence that President Bashar al-Assad step down.

Head of the opposition delegation to Geneva Nasr Hariri has said he is aiming for Assad's removal as a result of negotiations.

Syrian government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

(File Photo: UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, centre, Reuters)