Syria peace talks to commence with or without opposition: Russian diplomat

Russia will back an alternative Syrian opposition delegation to negotiate with Syria's government at peace talks in Geneva later this month if the existing opposition team is not reformed or boycotts the talks, a Russian diplomat said on Thursday.

"What we are trying to achieve is to either expand the 'Riyadh' delegation to include the moderate opposition or to have a separate opposition delegation," the diplomat said.

"(In case of a boycott), then the number two delegation comes. They will negotiate with the government," the diplomat said.