Russian foreign minister insists Syria peace talks 'not frozen'

Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday insisted that Syria peace talks in Geneva were "not frozen" as he slammed main opposition chiefs for walking out.

Lavrov said that while the main opposition High Negotiations Committee has announced it is putting its participation on hold, a government delegation and other groups are still taking part.

"The talks are not frozen," Lavrov said at a press conference with French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Moscow.

"We are coming from the position that (UN envoy) Staffan de Mistura is continuing his shuttle diplomacy with those who are not trying to put forward ultimatums and conditions," Lavrov said.

Delegates from the opposition High Negotiations Committee were leaving Geneva after the group suspended its formal participation to protest escalating violence and restrictions on humanitarian access.

Lavrov blasted the HNC opposition group as "capricious participants in the talks who are spoilt by their external patrons".

"They imagined that they could insist on what would be the agenda for the negotiations, stating that it needs to be clear for the start of these negotiations when and how (President Bashar al-Assad) will cease to lead Syria," Lavrov said.

"No one can win the war. All experts recognise this," Lavrov said. "There are some external players who dream about deposing the regime by force and try to do everything including disrupting the talks in Geneva."

The United Nations has insisted the talks have not collapsed, with de Mistura saying they would continue through the week.

He said that the indirect talks format -- which has seen the HNC and Assad's representatives meet separately with UN mediators -- created flexibility to continue the discussions.

This week's talks are meant to focus on Syria's political future, as the UN pushes a plan involving a transitional authority, a new constitution and eventual elections.

Russia is one of Assad's firmest backers and has launched a bombing campaign in Syria to help back up his forces on the ground.