A fifth round of talks on ending the six year Syrian conflict began in Kazakhstan today. A three-way meeting – gathering the co-sponsors of the talks, Russia, Iran and Turkey – is underway in Kazakh capital Astana, aimed at cementing four conflict free areas agreed in May. <br/><br/>Delegations from the three guarantor states Russia, Iran and Turkey as well as the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's representatives, the rebel factions that oppose him and the United Nations are participating in the talks.<br/><br/>The two days of meetings are then set to involve a string of bilateral talks before a plenary session bringing together all the participants tomorrow.<br/><br/>The Astana talks received a boost yesterday after the Syrian army unilaterally announced a halt to fighting until Thursday midnight in the southern provinces of Daraa, Quneitra and Sweida, which cover the rough area of one of the four proposed zones.