Syria peace talks face possible delay: UN

The United Nations has said it was waiting for regional powers spearheading the Syria peace process to agree on who will take part in talks starting in just one week's time and raised the possibility of a delay.

The peace talks, the first between the Syrian government and the opposition since 2014, are scheduled to open in Geneva on January 25, but invitations have yet to be sent to the delegations.

The 17 countries pushing for a peace deal, including the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran, have been struggling to agree on the list of opposition leaders who will have a seat at the negotiating table.

"At this stage, the UN will proceed with issuing invitations when the countries spearheading the international Syrian Support Group process come to an understanding on who among the opposition should be invited," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq.

The Geneva talks are to pave the way to a new constitution and elections in 18 months to end Syria's nearly five-year war.

Meanwhile, aid convoys have made new deliveries of fuel, food and medicine to four besieged Syrian towns, humanitarian officials said yesterday. They said fuel had entered Fuaa and Kafraya, which are under rebel siege, and Madaya, which is under a government siege.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group yesterday said scores of Syrian government forces have been killed in three days of fighting with Islamic State in the east of the country, where the jihadist group has attacked government-held areas.

According to Reuters, Islamic State advanced against government forces near the city of Deir al-Zor.