An official with Syria's largest Kurdish group says senior members of their party have left Geneva after not being invited to take part in indirect negotiations aiming to end Syria's civil war.

The talks began here Friday with a meeting between the U.N. envoy and the Syrian government delegation.

Kurdish official Nawaf Khalil says Saleh Muslim, the co-president of the Democratic Union Party or PYD, left Geneva Saturday.

Turkey considers the PYD a terrorist organization and the main opposition group known as the Higher Negotiations Committee claims they are close to the Syrian government.

The PYD departure came as the HNC team left Saudi Arabia for Geneva where they will work with the U.N. on ending the bombardment of civilians and lifting blockades in rebel-held areas.