Syria's warring sides met for their first talks in nine months yesterday, in Astana, Kazakistan, with their Russian and Turkish backers pushing to cement a ceasefire that could pave the way for political talks. <br/><br/>The talks backed by Russia and Turkey, did not feature direct negotiations, but rather the two sides communicated indirectly through mediators. Russian President's special envoy on the Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentyev said, the current format of Astana meeting on Syria gives hope the talks will reach a qualitatively new level. <br/><br/>The negotiations will continue today. More than 300,000 people have been killed and 11 million others displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.