The Syrian government reiterated readiness to participate in the Geneva II conference, due next January, in a dirve to solve the conflict in the country. The foreign ministry announced readiness to participate in two letters to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN Security Council (UNSC) President. The letters, cited by official news agency (SANA), reiterated the Syrian government's responsibility to protecting "Muslim and Christian citizens from the armed groups." It said the fight against terrorism was decisive to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis, as well as the "countries'" refraining from backing the armed groups. The letters accused the armed groups of random assault of populated neighborhoods