Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry on Friday welcomed a decision by the Riyadh-based Syrian opposition to send a delegation to UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

"The kingdom welcomes the decision taken by the High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian revolutionary and opposition forces in Riyadh to take part in the Geneva negotiations," the ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

A senior HNC delegate earlier told AFP that Syria's largest mainstream opposition group had decided after four days of debate to attend the Geneva talks and would send 30 to 35 delegates.