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| Syria conflict: World powers to intensify quest for peace | Syria conflict: World powers to intensify quest for peace |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Allies and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have agreed to renew efforts to end the civil war. | Allies and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have agreed to renew efforts to end the civil war. |
| The Vienna talks involved Iran, a key Assad ally, for the first time. | The Vienna talks involved Iran, a key Assad ally, for the first time. |
| The ministers agreed to ask the United Nations to start a process that could lead to a ceasefire and new elections. But they disagreed over Mr Assad's future. New talks are due in two weeks. | The ministers agreed to ask the United Nations to start a process that could lead to a ceasefire and new elections. But they disagreed over Mr Assad's future. New talks are due in two weeks. |
| Ahead of the talks, a Syrian government attack on a Damascus suburb left at least 57 people dead. | Ahead of the talks, a Syrian government attack on a Damascus suburb left at least 57 people dead. |
| If not Assad, then who? | If not Assad, then who? |
| Where key countries stand | Where key countries stand |
| Syria to Sweden: One migrant's 2,000-mile journey | Syria to Sweden: One migrant's 2,000-mile journey |
| 'We went back 200 years' | 'We went back 200 years' |
| The Vienna meeting sought to close the gap between the United States and its allies, who support the rebels, and the key foreign allies of the Syrian government, Russia and Iran. | The Vienna meeting sought to close the gap between the United States and its allies, who support the rebels, and the key foreign allies of the Syrian government, Russia and Iran. |
| After nearly eight hours of talks, the ministers agreed on a number of points, including: | After nearly eight hours of talks, the ministers agreed on a number of points, including: |
| The four-year-old war in Syria, which began with an uprising against President Assad, has left 250,000 people dead and forced half the country's population - or 11 million people - from their homes. | The four-year-old war in Syria, which began with an uprising against President Assad, has left 250,000 people dead and forced half the country's population - or 11 million people - from their homes. |
| Russia and Iran have recently stepped up their military involvement in the conflict, backing forces loyal to Mr Assad. | Russia and Iran have recently stepped up their military involvement in the conflict, backing forces loyal to Mr Assad. |
| But the US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations have long insisted that Mr Assad cannot play a long-term role in Syria's future. | But the US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations have long insisted that Mr Assad cannot play a long-term role in Syria's future. |
| "Four-and-a-half years of war, we all believe, has been far too long," US Secretary of State John Kerry said. | "Four-and-a-half years of war, we all believe, has been far too long," US Secretary of State John Kerry said. |
| "The time has come to stop the bleeding and start the building." | "The time has come to stop the bleeding and start the building." |
| Mr Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said they continued to disagree on the fate of Mr Assad. | Mr Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said they continued to disagree on the fate of Mr Assad. |
| While the US says Mr Assad should have no role in Syria's future, Mr Lavrov said: "The Syrian people should decide Assad's fate." He added that he "did not say that Assad has to go or that Assad has to stay". | While the US says Mr Assad should have no role in Syria's future, Mr Lavrov said: "The Syrian people should decide Assad's fate." He added that he "did not say that Assad has to go or that Assad has to stay". |
| Staffan de Mistura, the UN's envoy to Syria, said it was "unimaginable" even a few weeks ago that all parties would have agreed to talks, but added that much work and compromise remained to be done. | Staffan de Mistura, the UN's envoy to Syria, said it was "unimaginable" even a few weeks ago that all parties would have agreed to talks, but added that much work and compromise remained to be done. |
| Where key players stand on Assad | Where key players stand on Assad |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 100 people were wounded in what it said was a Syrian government air raid in Douma. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 100 people were wounded in what it said was a Syrian government air raid in Douma. |
| At least five children were among the 57 dead, the group reported. | At least five children were among the 57 dead, the group reported. |
| Footage uploaded to the internet - which cannot be independently verified - showed bodies strewn across the ruins of a marketplace in the rebel-held suburb of Douma on Friday morning. | Footage uploaded to the internet - which cannot be independently verified - showed bodies strewn across the ruins of a marketplace in the rebel-held suburb of Douma on Friday morning. |
| The area is often targeted by the government, and rebels fire rockets from there into Damascus. | The area is often targeted by the government, and rebels fire rockets from there into Damascus. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 12 rockets were fired at Douma. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 12 rockets were fired at Douma. |
| Meanwhile, a US official told the BBC that the Obama administration is preparing to send "fewer than 50" special forces troops to Syria. | Meanwhile, a US official told the BBC that the Obama administration is preparing to send "fewer than 50" special forces troops to Syria. |
| The troops will advise rebels supported by Washington in the fight against Islamist State (IS) militants, the White House said. | The troops will advise rebels supported by Washington in the fight against Islamist State (IS) militants, the White House said. |
| Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of Mr Assad and said on Friday it had hit 1,600 targets in the last month, including 51 training camps. | Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of Mr Assad and said on Friday it had hit 1,600 targets in the last month, including 51 training camps. |
| Analysis: Bethany Bell, BBC News, Vienna | Analysis: Bethany Bell, BBC News, Vienna |
| No-one at the talks in Vienna is under any illusions as to the challenges that lie ahead. | No-one at the talks in Vienna is under any illusions as to the challenges that lie ahead. |
| Every attempt in the past to solve the Syrian conflict through diplomacy has failed. But there is a new sense of momentum, a new willingness to co-operate. | Every attempt in the past to solve the Syrian conflict through diplomacy has failed. But there is a new sense of momentum, a new willingness to co-operate. |
| The atmosphere between Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov at the final press conference was cordial. | |
| There was no agreement on the fate of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The United States and its allies, including Saudi Arabia toned down their calls for him to be swiftly removed from power. Russia and Iran did not specifically rule out his eventual departure. | There was no agreement on the fate of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The United States and its allies, including Saudi Arabia toned down their calls for him to be swiftly removed from power. Russia and Iran did not specifically rule out his eventual departure. |
| However, many details remain vague. It's not clear when - or even if - the Syrian government or the rebels groups will join in the process. | However, many details remain vague. It's not clear when - or even if - the Syrian government or the rebels groups will join in the process. |