Internal Syrian opposition group rejects Geneva 2 talks

Civilians and rebel fighters inspect a site hit by what activists said was an airstrike by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Arbeen, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta January 14, 2014. Picture taken January 14, 2014. REUTERS/Ammar Al-Erbeeni

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's centrist internal opposition group, which rejects the armed insurgency against President Bashar al-Assad, said on Thursday that it will not attend peace talks in Switzerland next week, in a setback for the negotiations.

Khaled Dahowd, an executive member of the National Coordination Body (NCB), accused Russia and the United States of rushing the conference to promote their own interests in the region, rather than those of the Syrian people.