(VOVworld) - Syria's main opposition bloc has threatened to pull out of United Nations-sponsored peace talks in Geneva if the humanitarian situation in Syria is not improved.

People demonstrate against the Syrian regime ahead of the start of the Syrian Peace talks outside the U.N. European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 29, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

Coordinator of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) Riad Hijab said the opposition will not negotiate with President Bashar al-Assad, even in indirect manner, until their conditions, which include the government agreeing to lift sieges on opposition-held areas and stop shelling them and agreeing to release prisoners, are met. He added HNC delegation will inform the UN’s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura their plan to withdraw from the talks if the UN and powers cannot prevent those violations. Earlier, Syria’s government sent 16 representatives to Geneva for peace talks but HNC representatives have refused to take part in the negotiation.