21/01/2014 11:00
Syria crisis: UN withdraws Iran invitation to Geneva talks
The UN has withdrawn its invitation to Iran to join this week's peace conference on the Syria crisis, the BBC reported.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky criticised Tehran for failing to back the plan to form a Syrian transitional government, which is the basis of the conference.
The invitation to Iran, a key ally of the Syrian regime, angered the US and the Western-backed Syrian opposition.
The peace conference, due to begin on Wednesday, is the biggest diplomatic effort to end the three-year conflict.
More than 100,000 people have been killed and millions more displaced in the war.