Syria's largest opposition group to attend UN peace talks

Syria’s largest opposition group has said it will attend UN peace talks in Switzerland, but it will not negotiate directly with the Assad Government.

Previously the group known as the HNC had refused to join discussions before a deal was made on aid for besieged towns.

This is the biggest diplomatic effort to date to end Syria's almost five-year civil war.

Jane-Anne Mc Kenna, Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Ireland, has said people there are continuing to die of starvation; “Well the medics that Médecins San Frontiéres are supporting have reported that 16 people have died since the delivery of 38 convoys earlier this month.

“There were no convoys allowed in but since then we know that people have died and there is an acute need for medical assistance to be allowed in and for evacuations of people who despierately need to have acute medical attention.”