(VOVworld) – Syria's largest mainstream opposition group said Friday that it would attend United Nations-led peace talks in Switzerland, easing fears that it would boycott a process aimed at ending the tangled civil war.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar al Jaafari (left) during the Syria peace talks on Jan 29, 2016.(Photo: Reuters)

The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said it would "take part in the political process to test the seriousness of the other side through discussions with the UN team", after four days of suspense over whether it would join. Asaad al-Zoabi, head of the HNC delegation, said the group has reached an agreement on stopping bombing in residential areas and besieges. He said around 35 HNC representatives will take part in the talks in Geneva and the group is expected to have discussion with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura on Sunday. HNC’s participation in the  peace talk was seen as a breakthrough in the effort by the UN and world community to seek solution to Syria’s civil war.