Syria talks focusing on planned 'congress' in Russia
The main powerbrokers in Syria's nearly seven-year conflict were heading towards a second day of negotiations in Astana as uncertainly loomed Thursday over a Moscow-driven plan to quickly reach a political settlement. Chief Russian negotiator Aleksandr Lavrentyev told journalists that Russia was forging ahead with plans to host a "National Dialogue Congress" in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to accelerate discussions over a political deal that have sputtered in Geneva. The United Nations' special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has refused to say if the UN will back a plan promoted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but viewed warily by opponents of his government.