Syrian rebels threaten to boycott peace conference

The rebels, saying the government is breaching a Russian-backed ceasefire, may not participate in talks planned for this month.

Syrian rebel groups are threatening to boycott a peace conference being planned by Russia, citing what they say are ceasefire violations by the government and its allies.

The groups said in a statement that any territorial advances by the army or by Iran-backed militias would end the fragile ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey.
The ceasefire came into force on Friday.
"The regime and its allies have continued firing and committed many and large violations," said the statement, which was signed by mainly moderate groups under the umbrella of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA).
According to the statement, the main violations are in an area northwest of Damascus where government forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah group have been trying to advance.