Syria National Coalition Votes to Join Geneva Peace Talks

Starts Wednesday

Syria's exiled opposition early today voted to join international peace talks this week after Damascus offered concessions including a ceasefire plan for the battered city of Aleppo and the US gave opposition leaders assurances it would not weaken support.

In a secret ballot, the National Coalition agreed by 58 votes to 14 with two abstentions and one blank vote to take part in the talks opening in Switzerland on Wednesday, according to an official tally in Istanbul.