Syria's government and its enemies came face to face on Wednesday for the first time as a peace conference began in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war. There was immediate evidence of sharp differences, as U.S. Secretary...

  There can be no talk of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad staying in power; the Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Jarba told the first day of international talks convened in Switzerland to seek peace for the Middle East country. Jarba accused Assad’s forces of supporting...

  Democratic Union Party (PYD)  declared an autonomous provincial government in the country’s northern territory on Tuesday, according to reports. The move comes ahead of the Geneva 2 peace talks, where they will not have direct representation. A municipal council will...

     The horrific new report accusing Syria's embattled regime of   torturing and killing thousands of detainees   in government custody may not be a game-changer for the   peace talks   set to open in Switzerland on Wednesday,...