DHAKA: The opposition Syrian National Coalition is due to discuss whether it will attend a peace summit in Geneva next week, after the Syrian government said it had offered a limited ceasefire and prisoner swap in anticipation of talks.

The SNC was due to meet on Saturday in Istanbul, a day after failing to decide whether it would attend the UN-backed talks, set to start on January 22.

The meeting comes after a flurry of diplomatic activity.

On Friday, the Syrian foreign minister, Walid al-Muallem, announced he had handed Russia plans for a ceasefire in Aleppo, and was ready to exchange lists with rebel forces on a possible prisoner swap.

Muallem said, ‘The desires and aspirations of the Syrian people are important to us’, he said.

‘I believe the coalition will arrive at a decision for the good of the Syrian people.’

The US state secretary, John Kerry, however called the regime’s offer a diversion from the aim of the talks, installing a new government.

‘I’m not particularly surprised that he is trying to divert this. He’s been doing this for months, trying to make himself the protector of Syria against extremists,’ Kerry said of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.

BDST: 1805 HRS, JAN 18, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor