Russia tries to broker talks in Moscow between Syrian government and opposition

MOSCOW – Russia says it's trying to broker talks in Moscow between the Syrian government and the opposition.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that representatives of the opposition, who met with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Geneva, "responded positively" to the Russian offer to host "informal contacts in Moscow for the entire spectrum of Syria's social and political forces." It didn't say when the talks could take place.

Bogdanov said Wednesday after his talks with Syrian opposition leaders that the Moscow talks could focus on humanitarian problems as well as some political issues.

A Syrian opposition official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said the opposition National Council was sending experts to discuss humanitarian corridors with the Syrian government.

___

Desmond Butler in Istanbul contributed to this report.