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        UN Envoy Calls for 'Revitalized' Cease-fire Ahead of More Talks

   by VOA News

   The United Nations' Syria envoy says he plans to hold another round of
   peace talks next month, but called for a cease-fire to be "revitalized"
   before setting a date.

   Staffan de Mistura made the comments Thursday after briefing the U.N.
   Security Council on the talks. He said the discussions had gained some
   ground despite escalating violence in Syria.

   That violence includes a new attack on a hospital in Aleppo late
   Wednesday that killed at least 20 people, including three hospital
   staffers. Reports from the scene said one of the victims was the only
   pediatrician in the rebel-held area, and another of the victims was a
   child.

   Referring to that attack and others like it, de Mistura asked Thursday,
   "How can you have substantial talks when you have only news about
   bombing and shelling?"

   On Wednesday Russia asked the Security Council to impose sanctions on a
   Syrian opposition group that has been heavily involved in peace talks.

   Ambassador Vitaly Churkin accused Jaish al-Islam, and a second rebel
   group, Ahrar al-Sham, of being "closely connected" to Islamic State and
   al-Qaida.

   Jaish-al-Islam is a top member of the Western and Arab-backed High
   Negotiations Committee, which the U.N. set up last year to work out a
   political solution to the Syrian civil war.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-envoy-calls-for-revitalized-cease-
   fire-ahead-of-more-talks/3306256.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-envoy-calls-for-revitalized-cease-fire-ahead-of-more-talks/3306256.html