Russia says growing acceptance of Assad is key to Syria talks

Russia's ambassador in Geneva, Alexei Borodavkin, said UN-led Syria talks have a chance of making progress because demands for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad have receded.

Borodavkin said the seventh round of talks, which ended on Friday, had produced positive results, especially a "correction" in the approach of the main opposition delegation, the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee, Middle East Eye reported. 

"The essence of this correction is that during this round the opposition never once demanded the immediate resignation of President Bashar al-Assad and the legitimate Syrian government."

The HNC and its backers in Western and Persian Gulf capitals had realized that peace needed to come first, and then political reforms could be negotiated, he said.

EA