Syrian opposition undecided over peace talks

BEIRUT (AP) — The main Syrian opposition coalition will decide later this week on whether to take part in peace talks scheduled to resume Wednesday in Geneva, the head of the group said Monday, while violence across the north of the Syria claimed the lives of over a dozen people, despite a partial cease-fire.

Riad Hijab, head of the Higher Negotiations Committee, acknowledged in a teleconference with journalists that Russian bombardment has decreased following the "cessation of hostilities," which came into effect Feb. 27.

Yet he added that President Bashar Assad's government has not released any detainees and said the flow of aid to besieged rebel-held areas was too small.

"The Russians and the Iranians have caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation that is killing Syrians," Hijab said.

Insurgents shelled a predominantly Kurdish neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo, killing five civilians, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.

[...] Russia has said it is aiming to step up humanitarian aid to Syria's war-battered people by opening up its military facilities in Syria for international aid cargos.