Chief Syrian opposition peace negotiator Mohammed Alloush announces resignation

Cited failure of the Geneva negotiations and the continued shelling of rebel-held areas by President Bashar al-Assad's regime as reasons for resignation

The Syrian opposition's chief negotiator in stalled UN-brokered peace talks, Mohammed Alloush, has announced his resignation over the failure of the Geneva negotiations and the continued shelling of rebel-held areas by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"The three rounds of talks were unsuccessful because of the stubbornness of the regime and its continued bombardments and aggressions towards the Syrian people," Alloush, a member of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group, said in a statement on Twitter yesterday.

"I therefore announce my withdrawal from the delegation and my resignation," he said.