Top diplomats have discussed the possibilities of a Syrian ceasefire, with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that President Bashar-Al Assad is willing to open aid access to devastated areas.
Monday's meeting in Paris, attended by Lavrov and his US counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry, broached the subject of "localised ceasfires" in cities such as Aleppo, which have been badly hit by shelling and rebel infighting.
"We talked today about the possibility of trying to encourage a ceasefire. Maybe a localised ceasefire in Aleppo," Kerry told a press conference after the meeting.
While Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the talks with Kerry had been "constructive," he once again stressed the importance of including Iran in the Geneva II talks, which are due to take place later this month.
The AFP news agency reported that Kerry had said Iran was "welcome" at the Syria talks if it agreed to a transition of power in the war-torn country - an issue that has long been a sticking point in negotiations.
Kerry told reporters that the process in Geneva to end the crisis was going to be difficult, but that it had to begin right away.
The discussion with Lavrov and UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi also included the possibility of a prisoner exchange between the warring sides.
Kerry said Lavrov told him the Assad government was also prepared to open certain areas up for humanitarian access, including the besieged are of East Ghouta.
Lavrov said the talks with Kerry had been "constructive," but once again stressed the importance of including Iran in the Geneva II talks, which are due to take place later this month.
The AFP news agency reported that Kerry had said Iran was "welcome" at the Syria talks if it agreed to a transition of power in the war-torn country - an issue that has long been a sticking point in negotiations.
'Open war'
Political analyst Kamel Wazne told Al Jazeera that Iran and Saudi Arabia had to sit down at the same table if the conflict was going to end.
"There's a lot of positive things to come out of this. Finally, the Americans and Russians are on one page, they both want the end of the war in the Middle East, but Russia and US alone is not enough," he said.
"I think it is very crucial for the Iranians to be at the same table. It is the conflict between Saudi and Iran which is the issue at this point.
"Right now there is an open war in Lebanon, in Syria, in Yemen. Those two forces have to make peace or they go to war."
About two dozen nations plan to send foreign ministers to a daylong gathering on January 22 at a Montreux hotel.
The peace talks will then start on January 24 at the UN's headquarters in Geneva with meetings between Assad's delegation and Syrian opposition groups.
The meetings will be moderated by Brahimi. Agencies
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