geneva unite state france call russia wednesday deliver delegation president bashar al-assad syria peace talk geneva discussions end six-year war resume sign government attend eighth round negotiations begin last week days little apparent progress u.n. mediator staffan de mistura say government delegation lead bashar al-ja afari return damascus consult refresh de mistura expect talk resume around tuesday dec. ja afari leave geneva saturday say might come back opposition state assad could play role future interim government source close syrian government negotiate team tell reuters delegation still damascus wednesday say russians important syrian regime table part negotiations part discussion u.s. secretary state rex tillerson tell news conference brussels leave russians deliver table diplomat geneva say likely confirm delegation would return geneva friday russia ria news agency quote unnamed source say would arrive sunday monday syrian officials say ja afari return talk opposition spokesman yahya al-aridi say monday government boycott would embarrassment russia keen see negotiate end war opposition negotiate team arrive u.n. offices geneva wednesday morning resume talk de mistura decline comment late tuesday ask absence ja afari negotiators take two tango time need talk party aridi tell reporters wednesday quite serious bring peace syria well show france key backer syrian opposition accuse government block u.n.-led effort refuse engage good faith achieve political solution refusal highlight obstruction strategy political process carry damascus regime responsible absence progress negotiations french foreign ministry deputy spokesman alexandre georgini tell reporters also say russia one assad main supporters need assume responsibilities syrian government finally enter negotiations russian mission geneva immediately respond request comment last week sessions de mistura shuttle representatives war side meet face-to-face plan continue round dec. 15. u.s. france urge russia 'deliver assad delegation syria peace talk