Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday described the Syrian opposition delegation formed in Saudi Arabia as a group of 'terrorists and traitors' and said he would not negotiate with them.

BEIRUT (Sputnik) — The Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee which was created in Saudi Arabia in December and includes representatives of some groups considered to be terrorist organizations by Syria and Russia, is one of the opposition delegations participating in the UN-brokered talks on the Syrian settlement launched late January and put on hold until February 25.

"No country would agree to maintain dialogue with terrorists, and we will not agree to talk with terrorists either. The delegation formed in Riyadh is a bunch of traitors and terrorists," Assad said in remarks aired by Syrian state television.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, when mass anti-government protests against President Bashar Assad and the ruling party escalated to an armed confrontation between government troops and allied militia on the one hand, and Syrian opposition factions on the other.

Apart from fighting the rebels in the ongoing conflict, government forces have had to counter extremist groups as well, including Daesh, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

The UN Security Council Resolution 2254, passed in December, reaffirms the goals of previous agreements to end the bombardment of civilians in Syria, bring the entire spectrum of political groups in the crisis-torn country to the negotiating table and promote a lasting political resolution of the crisis.