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| Syria conflict: Attack hits Damascus suburb as rivals' allies meet | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An attack on a Damascus suburb has left at least 40 dead, activists say, as the first talks bringing together all foreign powers backing rival sides in Syria's civil war take place in Vienna. | |
| 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 one child was among the dead, the group reported. | |
| The Vienna talks are involving Iran, Syria's ally, for the first time. | |
| The meeting will seek to close the gap between the US and its allies, who support the rebels, and the key foreign allies of the Syrian government, Russia and Iran. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. A number of rebel groups within Syria said the death toll could be higher than the 40 reported by the Observatory. | |
| Iran's growing role | Iran's growing role |
| 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' |
| Where key players stand on Assad | Where key players stand on Assad |
| If not Assad, then who? | If not Assad, then who? |
| The four-year-old war in Syria, which began with an uprising against President Bashar al-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. | |
| The US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations have long insisted that he cannot play a long-term role in Syria's future. | |
| Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that other powers had realised that there was no way of reaching "a reasonable solution" to the Syrian conflict without involving Tehran. | |
| Neither the Syrian government nor the opposition are at the talks, although Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Russia had supported the Free Syria Army being involved. | |
| Attending the talks are: | |
| A Western diplomat called the Vienna talks "embryonic", while another said that simply keeping opposing sides from walking out would count as success. | A Western diplomat called the Vienna talks "embryonic", while another said that simply keeping opposing sides from walking out would count as success. |
| Analysis: BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall | Analysis: BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall |
| Many Western diplomats have played down expectations about this gathering, given how complex and bitter the conflict in Syria has become. | |
| One official said it wasn't even a first step towards a peace process, just a tentative bid to seek common ground, with no-one really sure if that is possible. | One official said it wasn't even a first step towards a peace process, just a tentative bid to seek common ground, with no-one really sure if that is possible. |
| Already the United States and its European and Arab allies, plus Turkey, have given some ground on the critical question of President Assad's role in any future process of transition, suggesting that although he would have to step down, it didn't have to be immediately. | Already the United States and its European and Arab allies, plus Turkey, have given some ground on the critical question of President Assad's role in any future process of transition, suggesting that although he would have to step down, it didn't have to be immediately. |
| The key question now is whether his two main backers, Russia and Iran, will give any ground on their side. | The key question now is whether his two main backers, Russia and Iran, will give any ground on their side. |
| Room for compromise? | Room for compromise? |
| 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 would advise rebels supported by Washington in the fight against Islamist State (IS) militants, US media reported. | |
| US special operations forces have previously taken part in at least two raids in Syria. | |
| In May, troops killed senior IS member Abu Sayyaf and captured his wife in eastern Syria, and, last summer, forces failed in an operation to rescue American hostages including journalist James Foley, who was later beheaded by IS fighters. | |
| Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of Mr Assad. | Russia began its military intervention in Syria at the end of last month, launching air strikes in support of Mr Assad. |
| Washington has accused Moscow of focussing its air campaign in Syria against moderate opposition groups rather than on the Islamic State militant group. | |
| On Friday, Russia's defence ministry said it had hit 1,600 targets in the last month, including 51 training camps. | |
| Why is there a war in Syria? | Why is there a war in Syria? |
| Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. | Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. |
| Who is fighting whom? | Who is fighting whom? |
| Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. | Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. |
| What's the human cost? | What's the human cost? |
| More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. | More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. |
| How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
| Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. | Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. |