Syria talks: Government must listen, says SNC's Monzer Akbik

The two sides at the Syrian peace talks in Geneva have met briefly for the first time in the same room, sitting face-to-face, but not talking directly.

The initial meeting lasted about half an hour, with only the UN mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, speaking.

Spokesman for the Syrian National Coalition, Monzer Akbik told the BBC's Lina Sinjab the two sides would be focusing on the country's humanitarian crisis as well as political transition.