An official with Syria's main opposition group says it supports Russia's call for resumed peace talks, but wants them to take place under United Nations auspices. Bassma Kodmani of the High Negotiations Committee spoke to The Associated Press by phone after Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement earlier Friday of a peace initiative brokered with Turkey in which Astana, Kazakhstan would host talks between the Syrian government and opposition representatives. Kodmani says the HNC is "completely in favor of those talks, but we want them under U.N. auspices." She called on Russia to "go for a serious process that is acceptable to credible opposition and regional players." She said the HNC doesn't believe Astana is "the appropriate place." Several rounds of U.N.-mediated indirect peace talks this year in Geneva yielded no progress amid renewed fighting.
