World Bulletin / News Desk 

A conference of Syrian opposition groups kicked off Monday in Cairo.

Attended by more than 200 opposition representatives, the two-day meeting is expected to discuss means of forging a united opposition front with a view to resolving the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has remained in the throes of civil war since 2011.

In the meeting’s opening session, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated Cairo's support for a political settlement to the conflict.

“Saving the lives of Syrian children calls for redoubled efforts to help achieve reconciliation,” he said.

Shoukry also called on Syrian opposition groups to avoid “differences.”

Monday's conference had initially been scheduled for April, but was later delayed.

More than 220,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict between Bashar al-Assad’s regime and opposition forces began, according to the UN.