Syrian government delegation to visit Moscow

A Syrian government delegation will meet officials in Moscow Monday to discuss preparations for an international peace conference that Russia, the United States and the United Nations are trying to convene.

The Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment.

Russia and the United States announced plans for a conference in May which would bring together representatives of the Syrian government and opposition in Geneva. No date has yet been set.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition agreed on Monday to attend the conference but said there could be no role for President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s future.

Russia says Assad’s exit from power cannot be a precondition for the talks aimed at ending the civil war, which has killed more than 100,000 people.