Kerry Urges Syrian Opposition to Join Peace Talks, Dismisses Regime's Recommendation Conference Discuss Terrorism

U.S. secretary of state wants a political settlement

The United States urged Syria's opposition on Thursday to attend January 22 peace talks and criticized its government for suggesting the meeting should be about fighting terrorism rather than forging a political settlement.

The comments by Secretary of State John Kerry, less than a week before the talks are to begin, suggest some uncertainty by the United States over whether the opposition will show up at the U.N.-hosted conference in Montreux, Switzerland.