MONTREUX, Switzerland (AFP) - Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem called the country's opposition "traitors" and foreign "agents" as a peace conference opened in Switzerland on Wednesday.

"They claim to represent the Syrian people. If you want to speak in the name of the Syrian people, you should not be traitors to the Syrian people, agents in the pay of enemies of the Syrian people," Mr Muallem said in opening remarks.