DHAKA: Syria threatened to quit peace talks in Geneva by Saturday, criticising the opposition delegation as "not serious," state television said.

Foreign Minister Walid "Muallem has told (UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar) Brahimi that should serious sessions fail to take place by Saturday, the official Syrian delegation will leave Geneva," the channel said on Friday reported straitstimes.

The regime accused that the opposition National Coalition of being "not serious and not ready" for the talks, which opened on Wednesday.

BDST: 2145 HRS, JAN 24, 2013