Syrian rivals were to resume UN-backed peace talks in Geneva today, with escalating violence and impasse on various issues fading hopes of a breakthrough. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura tried to strike an optimistic note when the previous round ended last month. He insisted government and rebel negotiators had agreed on a clear agenda and that everything is ready for the talks to move forward.<br/><br/>On the agenda for this round are issues of governance – a political transition, the constitution and elections, as well as counter-terrorism at the request of Damascus. But an already-fragile ceasefire has deteriorated further in recent days after rebels and allied jihadists launched two surprise offensives on government positions in Damascus and central Hama province.<br/><br/>Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force has responded with raids on rebel targets, further threatening negotiations which have yielded little in four previous rounds. The UN talks is with an objective to find a solution to end a six-year conflict in the region. The UN's deputy Syria envoy, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy will meet the rival camps in Geneva to prepare the round ahead, the UN said.

Syrian rivals were to resume UN-backed peace talks in Geneva today, with escalating violence and impasse on various issues fading hopes of a breakthrough. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura tried to strike an optimistic<br/>note when the previous round ended last month. He insisted government and rebel negotiators had agreed on a clear agenda and that everything is ready for the talks to move forward.<br/><br/>On the agenda for this round are issues of governance – a political transition, the constitution and elections, as well as counter-terrorism at the request of Damascus. But an already-fragile ceasefire has deteriorated further in recent days after rebels and allied jihadists launched two surprise offensives on government positions in Damascus and central Hama province.<br/>Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force has responded with raids on rebel targets, further threatening negotiations which have yielded little in four previous rounds. The UN talks is with an objective to find a solution to end a six-year conflict in the region. The UN's deputy Syria envoy, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy will meet the rival camps in Geneva to prepare the round ahead, the UN said.