Syrian negotiator threatens to pull out of Geneva talks

Syria government negotiator Bashar al-Ja'afari said on Friday his team was pulling out of U.N.-led talks in Geneva and might not return next week, citing a statement by the opposition at their "Riyadh 2" conference last month that President President Bashar al-Assad could play no role in an transition period.

"As long as the other side sticks to the language of Riyadh 2, there will be no progress," Ja'afari told reporters after a morning of talks, adding that the government in Damascus would decide if his delegation would return next week.