Armed Syrian opposition delegates arrive in Astana as peace talks start

A delegation of the armed Syrian opposition has arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana to participate in the eighth round of talks on Syria, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. “All the participant delegations have arrived in Astana. The Syrian opposition delegation comprises more than 20 members, they all have arrived,” TASS quoted the ministry’s spokesman, Anuar Zhainakov, as saying. UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is expected to arrive on Friday, when the plenary session of the Astana talks opens, the ministry said.