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| Syria peace conference Geneva II begins in Switzerland | Syria peace conference Geneva II begins in Switzerland |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A major conference aimed at finding a solution to the three-year conflict in Syria which has left 100,000 dead is starting in Switzerland. | |
| The Syrian government and the main opposition are attending the Geneva II summit along with international allies. | The Syrian government and the main opposition are attending the Geneva II summit along with international allies. |
| The key issue, on which neither side appears willing to budge, is the future of President Bashar al-Assad. | The key issue, on which neither side appears willing to budge, is the future of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Differences were also laid bare on the eve of the summit, in a report accusing Syria of mass torture and executions. | Differences were also laid bare on the eve of the summit, in a report accusing Syria of mass torture and executions. |
| 'Patience and persistence' | 'Patience and persistence' |
| The conference will begin in Montreux on Wednesday, and continue in Geneva two days later. | The conference will begin in Montreux on Wednesday, and continue in Geneva two days later. |
| This would be the first time the Syrian government and the opposition have met face-to-face since the start of the conflict which, in addition to the dead, has left millions of Syrians displaced. | This would be the first time the Syrian government and the opposition have met face-to-face since the start of the conflict which, in addition to the dead, has left millions of Syrians displaced. |
| The first day will see speeches from some of the 40 or so foreign ministers who have gathered in Montreux. | The first day will see speeches from some of the 40 or so foreign ministers who have gathered in Montreux. |
| But as the delegations arrived, the main opposition National Coalition and the Syrian government were quick to set out their agendas on the future of Mr Assad. | But as the delegations arrived, the main opposition National Coalition and the Syrian government were quick to set out their agendas on the future of Mr Assad. |
| Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem was quoted by Syria's Sana news agency as saying: "The issues of the president and the regime are red lines for us and for the Syrian people. Nobody can touch the presidency." | Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem was quoted by Syria's Sana news agency as saying: "The issues of the president and the regime are red lines for us and for the Syrian people. Nobody can touch the presidency." |
| On his arrival in Switzerland, Badr Jamous, secretary-general of the National Coalition, told Reuters: "We will not accept less than the removal of the criminal Bashar al-Assad and changing the regime and holding the murderers accountable." | On his arrival in Switzerland, Badr Jamous, secretary-general of the National Coalition, told Reuters: "We will not accept less than the removal of the criminal Bashar al-Assad and changing the regime and holding the murderers accountable." |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says the UN secretary general will not want his peace talks to collapse into a shouting match, so the UN's main concern will be to get some sort of initial dialogue going on steps that will help beleaguered Syrians. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says the UN secretary general will not want his peace talks to collapse into a shouting match, so the UN's main concern will be to get some sort of initial dialogue going on steps that will help beleaguered Syrians. |
| She says there is talk of possible local truces and humanitarian access to besieged areas. | She says there is talk of possible local truces and humanitarian access to besieged areas. |
| But our correspondent says that even this may be a tall order, given the uncertainty that the Assad government will make real concessions and the lack of sway the opposition delegation has over the many rebel groups fighting in Syria. | But our correspondent says that even this may be a tall order, given the uncertainty that the Assad government will make real concessions and the lack of sway the opposition delegation has over the many rebel groups fighting in Syria. |
| International delegates to Geneva II have played down hopes of a breakthrough, saying the talks should be seen as the first step in a process. | International delegates to Geneva II have played down hopes of a breakthrough, saying the talks should be seen as the first step in a process. |
| A senior US state department official told Agence France-Presse: "I don't think anyone who's dealt with Syrian officials has any false expectations of rapid progress. | A senior US state department official told Agence France-Presse: "I don't think anyone who's dealt with Syrian officials has any false expectations of rapid progress. |
| "Everybody has to understand that this is the beginning of a process. It's not going to be fast. It's very bitter fighting on the ground. And so there's going to be an absolute requirement for patience and for persistence." | "Everybody has to understand that this is the beginning of a process. It's not going to be fast. It's very bitter fighting on the ground. And so there's going to be an absolute requirement for patience and for persistence." |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier added: "We must have measured expectations. We will not see peace triumph during these discussions." | German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier added: "We must have measured expectations. We will not see peace triumph during these discussions." |
| Mr Muallem did indicate that Damascus was "committed to working for the success of this conference so that it is the first step on the road to a dialogue between Syrians on Syrian soil". | Mr Muallem did indicate that Damascus was "committed to working for the success of this conference so that it is the first step on the road to a dialogue between Syrians on Syrian soil". |
| A senior Russian official said the first talks were expected to last seven to 10 days, followed by "a short break, and then the talks will resume". | A senior Russian official said the first talks were expected to last seven to 10 days, followed by "a short break, and then the talks will resume". |
| On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama telephoned Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "discuss the issues of the conference", the Kremlin said. | On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama telephoned Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to "discuss the issues of the conference", the Kremlin said. |
| It said the conversation was "businesslike and constructive". | It said the conversation was "businesslike and constructive". |
| Foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry met later on Tuesday in Montreux. | Foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry met later on Tuesday in Montreux. |
| The lead-up to the summit has been difficult, with the UN first inviting Iran - Syria's ally - to the talks and then withdrawing the invitation. | The lead-up to the summit has been difficult, with the UN first inviting Iran - Syria's ally - to the talks and then withdrawing the invitation. |
| The UN defended the withdrawal on Tuesday, saying the Iran had orally accepted the Geneva Communique, the plan for a transitional Syrian governing body agreed at a UN-backed meeting in 2012, only to later fail to put the commitment in writing. | The UN defended the withdrawal on Tuesday, saying the Iran had orally accepted the Geneva Communique, the plan for a transitional Syrian governing body agreed at a UN-backed meeting in 2012, only to later fail to put the commitment in writing. |
| 'Caesar' | 'Caesar' |
| On the eve of the summit, a report by three former war crimes prosecutors alleged Syria had systematically tortured and executed about 11,000 detainees since the start of the uprising in March 2011. | On the eve of the summit, a report by three former war crimes prosecutors alleged Syria had systematically tortured and executed about 11,000 detainees since the start of the uprising in March 2011. |
| The report is based on the evidence of a defected military police photographer, referred to only as Caesar, who along with others reportedly smuggled about 55,000 digital images of the dead detainees out of Syria. | The report is based on the evidence of a defected military police photographer, referred to only as Caesar, who along with others reportedly smuggled about 55,000 digital images of the dead detainees out of Syria. |
| The US and UN reacted with "horror" to the allegations. | The US and UN reacted with "horror" to the allegations. |
| A Syrian spokesman said the report had no credibility as it was commissioned by Qatar, which funds rebel groups. | A Syrian spokesman said the report had no credibility as it was commissioned by Qatar, which funds rebel groups. |