The government of Syria has blamed Israel for the suspension of peace negotiations between the two countries.

In a statement, Syria's ruling coalition, the National Progressive Front, again said the peace talks will only move forward if Israel accepts the principal of withdrawing from the Golan Heights to positions it occupied before the nineteen-sixty-seven war.

The statement was issued at the end of a meeting in which the Syrian chief negotiator, the Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Shara, briefed members of the coalition on the talks he's had so far with Israel. Israel has consistently demanded security guarantees from Syria before making any concessions about the demarcation of the border.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service