THE Syrian delegation arrived for peace talks in Geneva yesterday, despite a boycott by Saudi-backed extremist rebels.

The delegation, led by Syria’s permanent representative to the UN Dr Bashar al-Jaafari, was welcomed by UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

But the High Negotiating Council (HNC) — a coalition of militant groups convened under the Saudi Arabian aegis in December — refused to attend until the Syrian army and its Russian and Lebanese allies stop fighting and allow supplies to be brought in.

Saudi and alleged Islamic State (Isis) ally Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed the HNC’s boycott.

“Russia’s constant bombing of the opposition regions is causing serious distress within the opposition. For them to attend without a ceasefire is a betrayal for those who are at the front,” he said.

But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on all forces invited to the talks to participate without preconditions.

In Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met another delegation of secular opposition groups willing to participate in talks and new elections.

Meanwhile, Syrian forces continued to make gains on the battlefield against Isis and other insurgents.

The special forces dvision known as the Tiger Forces under General Suheil al-Hassan launched a two-pronged offensive yesterday to retake the key Aleppo thermal power plant between Aleppo City and Kweires air force base. By the evening troops had liberated the village of Afesh.

And army soldiers began advancing on Kinsiba, the last rebel stronghold in Latakia province.