Syria regime to join peace talks on Wednesday: United Nations

A man stands on the rubble of damaged buildings after an airstrike on the rebel-held town of Mesraba in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta (Reuters)

Geneva: Syria`s government has confirmed that it will take part in peace talks in Geneva this week, the UN said on Tuesday, after an announcement that it may not show up had delivered a blow to the negotiations.

"The government delegation has not yet arrived but (UN envoy Staffan de Mistura) has received the message that they are planning to arrive tomorrow," UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told reporters.

The eighth round of talks is seen as a chance for the UN to revitalise its push to end the six-year war, which has killed more than 340,000 people and left Syria in ruin.

De Mistura has stressed the urgent need for progress towards a political solution and had been bolstered by the fractured opposition`s decision to form a unified negotiation team for the first time.