Syria peace talks near collapse as opposition declares 'pause'

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, John Irish and Tom Miles BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) - Syrian peace talks came close to collapse on Monday, with the mainstream opposition announcing a "pause" in talks at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, although it agreed to keep its negotiating team in the city. The Western-backed opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said in a letter to rebel fighters that government military advances meant a ceasefire was "effectively over" and it was calling a postponem