Syria opposition to decide November 9 on Geneva talks

Syria's opposition National Coalition is to meet November 9 to decide on the divisive issue of whether to take part in peace talks in Geneva, a Coalition member said Thursday.

"We have decided to put off the [Coalition's] General Assembly and political committee meetings until November 9 in Istanbul," Samir Nashar told AFP.

The Istanbul meetings were originally scheduled for October 22 but postponed because of a "Friends of Syria" meeting in London.

"There is an international effort, notably American, to persuade the Coalition to take part" in a Geneva peace conference, Nashar said.

"Putting off a decision until November 9 aims to allow more time for discussions and to assist efforts to change the mind of those opposed" to taking part, he said.