A conference of Syrian opposition groups kicked off Monday in Cairo attended by more than 200 opposition representatives.

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 mid-March 2011, where the western media reports accuse countries, mainly the USA, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar of orchestrating the civil conflict in the country and providing terrorist groups with money, weapons and trained mercenaries.

On May 2011, Syrian army launched a wide-scale operation against armed groups and gunmen operating in the country, who started to escape the army blows and infiltrate illegally to Lebanon.