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Syria conflict: Peace talks 'to start on Friday', UN says Syria conflict: Peace talks to start on Friday, UN says
(about 1 hour later)
Talks to end the war in Syria are expected to start on Friday and last six months, the UN's special envoy on Syria has said. Talks aimed at finding a political solution to the war in Syria are expected to start in Geneva on Friday and last six months, the UN has said.
However, Staffan de Mistura said discussions over who should take part in the talks were still ongoing. However, special envoy Staffan de Mistura said discussions over who should take part were continuing.
The priorities are to bring about a broad ceasefire, stop the Islamic State group (IS) and increase aid, he said. The priorities were to bring about a broad ceasefire, stop so-called Islamic State (IS) and increase aid, he said.
The announcement came as 23 people were reported killed in an attack on a rebel checkpoint in Aleppo. Mr de Mistura's announcement came as 23 people were reportedly killed in an attack on a rebel checkpoint in Aleppo.
A suicide bomber driving a fuel truck targeted a checkpoint run by the rebel group Ahrar al Sham, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A suicide bomber driving a fuel lorry targeted a checkpoint run by the Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Four of the group's commanders and four civilians were believed to have died, according to the Observatory, a London-based monitoring group. Dozens more were wounded. Four of the group's commanders and four civilians were believed to be among the dead, according to the UK-based monitoring group.
It is not known who carried out the attack, in which dozens of people were also wounded.
More than 250,000 people have died in Syria in the almost five years of fighting since opposition protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad began.More than 250,000 people have died in Syria in the almost five years of fighting since opposition protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad began.
Opposition agrees framework for talks
Civilians under siegeCivilians under siege
International system has failed SyriaInternational system has failed Syria
The story of the conflictThe story of the conflict
Mr de Mistura said the "proximity talks" would be indirect to start with, with negotiators ferrying messages between the sides. Mr de Mistura said the "proximity talks" would be indirect to start with, with negotiators ferrying messages between representatives of the warring parties.
The talks had been delayed by disputes over who should attend, he said, but he added that he expected invitations to be sent out on Tuesday.The talks had been delayed by disputes over who should attend, he said, but he added that he expected invitations to be sent out on Tuesday.
Participation by IS and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front had been ruled out, he said, but discussions about other rebel groups were continuing. Participation by IS and the al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, al-Nusra Front, had been ruled out, he said, but discussions about other rebel groups were continuing.
Turkey has warned that participation by Syrian Kurdish forces, which it considers to be "terrorists", could cause the talks to fail.Turkey has warned that participation by Syrian Kurdish forces, which it considers to be "terrorists", could cause the talks to fail.
Mr de Mistura said the first phase of negotiations would last between two and three weeks.Mr de Mistura said the first phase of negotiations would last between two and three weeks.
He warned the talks would be stormy, with "a lot of posturing, a lot of walk-outs and walk-ins".He warned the talks would be stormy, with "a lot of posturing, a lot of walk-outs and walk-ins".
Issues of governance, a constitutional review and future elections would also be on the agenda, he added.Issues of governance, a constitutional review and future elections would also be on the agenda, he added.