Syrian opposition to boycott international talks

Protesting the lack of global condemnation for atrocities in Syria, the country's main opposition coalition said Saturday it would not attend upcoming talks in Italy, Russia and the United States, DPA reported.

"Due to this shameful international position, the coalition has decided to suspend its participation in the Friends of Syria Conference of international powers due in Rome on Thursday and talks in Russia and the US," the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces said.

The boycott decision came a day after dozens of people were reportedly killed in a missile attack by troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against a residential area in the northern city of Aleppo.

he opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government troops were using surface-to-surface missiles to drive rebels out of their strongholds in Aleppo.

Both sides have been battling for months for control of Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub.

At least 70,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising against al-Assad's rule started in March 2011, according to UN estimates.

Meanwhile, German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere and his Dutch counterpart Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert visited the Turkish cities of Adana and Kahramanmaras near the border with Syria to inspect the Patriot batteries provided by their countries at Turkey's request.