DHAKA: The Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella opposition body in exile, has agreed to participate in long-awaited peace talks planned for January 22 in Geneva.

The Syrian National Coalition`s media office said on Saturday that of 75 voters, 58 voted in favour of attending the conference against 14 `No` votes, two abstentions and one blank vote.

Media, reporting from Istanbul, said the Syrian opposition has struggled to reach a decision to join the talks.

Reporters also said that the opposition wanted to make sure they have the support of the fighters inside Syria, before heading to Geneva.

As of Saturday evening, the Syrian opposition has not named the delegates to the negotiations, she said. "The names of the delegates will likely be released on Sunday."

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday praised the decision by Syria`s opposition leaders to attend the peace talks.

The secret ballot was a result of pressure from Western and Arab sponsors of the opposition.

Many members boycotted the Istanbul meetings that began on Friday, forcing the Coalition`s legal committee to approve the decision in a simple majority vote.

The vote came two days after the Syrian government agreed to attend the talks aimed at ending the nearly three years civil war.

Al Jazeera obtained a letter written by the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem to the UN chief that appeared to set conditions for the peace talks.

"It should be noted that we do not agree with certain points mentioned in the letter of invitation, simply for the reason that they are in conflict with the legal and political position of the State of Syria," Muallem wrote in reply to an invitation from Ban Ki-Moon.

Source: aljazeera.com
BDST: 1050 HRS, JAN 19, 2014
MR/RS