Syrian rebels in secret talks with Moscow

Leaders of the Syrian opposition are now holding negotiations with Russian representatives to end the fighting in Aleppo, the Financial Times has reported.

The talks are taking place in Ankara, brokered by Turkey, and Washington is not participating in the negotiations, the paper said citing four anonymous Syrian opposition figures. 

"The Russians and Turks are talking without the US now. It (Washington) is completely shut out of these talks, and doesn’t even know what’s going on in Ankara", one of the Syrian opposition representatives said.

It is not the first time that the Syrian opposition has met with the Russian side, but it is unprecedented that so many rebel groups would participate in the negotiations, the sources added. 

"Talks appear to have made little progress, but the fact they are taking place — without US involvement — underlines the shifting political dynamics in the Middle East", the FT writes.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia and Turkey are constantly in touch with various groups in Syria.

Turkish officials refused to comment on the report.

Source: MENA