War In Syria: France announces bid to host Syrian opposition groups meeting

France plans to invite ministers from countries who support Syrian opposition groups to a meeting in Paris on May 9 to seek ways to break the political and military deadlock in the country, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters that France had decided on such a step because there appeared no immediate prospect of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) convening to try to restore a ceasefire wrecked by an upsurge of fighting, which has seen nearly 300 people killed in the last 13 days, as well as the bombing of hospitals and civilian areas.

“We are fighting [to ensure] the ceasefire returns straight away and we would like the ISSG to meet. For now we have not got any agreement from the Americans or Russians who co-preside the group to hold this meeting,” Ayrault said.