Main Syrian Opposition Team To Head To Geneva Ahead Of Possible Negotiations

Syria-talks-Geneva — U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura shakes hands with Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar al Jaafari (left) during the Syria peace talks in Geneva on Jan. 29, 2016. REUTERS/Jean-Marc Ferre/United Nations

A delegation representing Syria's main opposition group were traveling to Geneva on Saturday to assess the intentions of the Syrian government in implementing humanitarian measures that could allow it to join peace settlement negotiations, an opposition representative said.

The 17-strong team including the head of the Saudi-backed Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC) Riad Hijab and negotiation team head Asaad al-Zoubi would board a plane in the next hour from the Saudi capital, Riyad Naasan Agha told Reuters.

Syria's main opposition group agreed to travel to Geneva, where the United Nations on Friday opened peace talks to end the country's five-year-old war, but said it wanted to discuss humanitarian issues before engaging in political negotiations.