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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Syria conflict: Peace talks begin in Astana, Kazakhstan | Syria conflict: Peace talks begin in Astana, Kazakhstan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fresh peace talks aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict have begun in the Kazakh capital, Astana. | |
| The talks are brokered by Russia and Iran, which back the Syrian government, and Turkey which supports the rebels. | The talks are brokered by Russia and Iran, which back the Syrian government, and Turkey which supports the rebels. |
| For the first time, the opposition delegation has been formed exclusively of representatives of armed groups. | |
| Organisers have played down expectations of a breakthrough, and rebels say there will be no direct negotiations with the government. | Organisers have played down expectations of a breakthrough, and rebels say there will be no direct negotiations with the government. |
| The last round of talks between the opposition and the government, which were brokered by the UN, were suspended in early 2016. | The last round of talks between the opposition and the government, which were brokered by the UN, were suspended in early 2016. |
| Jihadists such as so-called Islamic State (IS) are excluded. Kazakhstan's foreign ministry says it expects the talks to be finished by Tuesday. | Jihadists such as so-called Islamic State (IS) are excluded. Kazakhstan's foreign ministry says it expects the talks to be finished by Tuesday. |
| More than 300,000 people have been killed and 11 million displaced in almost six years of conflict. | More than 300,000 people have been killed and 11 million displaced in almost six years of conflict. |
| UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura is attending the talks, and the US is being represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan. | UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura is attending the talks, and the US is being represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan. |
| The new equation, by BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, in Astana | The new equation, by BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet, in Astana |
| "Everything has changed since Aleppo," says a Western diplomat who has been engaged on Syria for the past several years. "There's a new equation." | "Everything has changed since Aleppo," says a Western diplomat who has been engaged on Syria for the past several years. "There's a new equation." |
| The opposition's stinging defeat in the northern city of Aleppo in December robbed them of their last major urban stronghold to challenge President Bashar al-Assad's rule. | |
| And there was another game-changer. Behind the scenes, in the Turkish capital Ankara, a new Russian-Turkish alliance forged a deal to end the final fight for Syria's second city. | And there was another game-changer. Behind the scenes, in the Turkish capital Ankara, a new Russian-Turkish alliance forged a deal to end the final fight for Syria's second city. |
| Now two unlikely allies, who have always backed different sides in this war, are hoping to redraw Syria's geo-political map. | Now two unlikely allies, who have always backed different sides in this war, are hoping to redraw Syria's geo-political map. |
| Read Lyse's piece in full | Read Lyse's piece in full |
| Bashar al-Jaafari, who heads the Syrian government delegation, said earlier that the agenda would focus on strengthening a ceasefire that has largely held since last month. | Bashar al-Jaafari, who heads the Syrian government delegation, said earlier that the agenda would focus on strengthening a ceasefire that has largely held since last month. |
| "This would be a test of the credibility and seriousness of the participants, whether those who will be sitting at the discussion table or their operators," he said, quoted by state media. | "This would be a test of the credibility and seriousness of the participants, whether those who will be sitting at the discussion table or their operators," he said, quoted by state media. |
| Russia and Turkey brokered the ceasefire on 30 December. It excludes IS and the rival jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as al-Nusra Front until it broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda in July. | |
| An opposition spokesman told the BBC at the start of the talks that both sides would discuss - though indirectly - the ceasefire, humanitarian aid and prisoners. | An opposition spokesman told the BBC at the start of the talks that both sides would discuss - though indirectly - the ceasefire, humanitarian aid and prisoners. |
| Last week, a leader of the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam, Mohammed Alloush, said he would go to Astana to end the "crimes" of the government and its allies. | Last week, a leader of the rebel group Jaysh al-Islam, Mohammed Alloush, said he would go to Astana to end the "crimes" of the government and its allies. |
| The main umbrella group representing Syria's political and armed opposition factions, the High Negotiations Committee, says it considers the Astana talks a "preliminary step for the next round" of negotiations on a political settlement in Geneva. | The main umbrella group representing Syria's political and armed opposition factions, the High Negotiations Committee, says it considers the Astana talks a "preliminary step for the next round" of negotiations on a political settlement in Geneva. |
| The Syrian conflict began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. | The Syrian conflict began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war. |