SYRIA’S chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari said yesterday that the peace talks walkout by the “Riyadh opposition” had removed a “major obstacle” to the Geneva negotiations’ success.

Mr Jaafari reiterated that Damascus is ready to form an “expanded national unity government” with some opposition groups, but not those linked to terrorism or following foreign agendas.

“Those who want to walk away upon instructions they receive from the outside will have to take responsibility for their actions,” he said, in clear reference to Saudi Arabia.