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.