The Syrian government is due to meet the foreign-backed armed opposition factions on Monday in the Kazakh capital Astana, in the latest push to end the conflict.

Scheduled to begin at 0800 GMT, the planned face-to-face talks would be the first time the warring sides negotiate directly since the war erupted in 2011.

The talks have been welcomed by all parties in the war, but the two sides have arrived in Kazakhstan with apparently divergent ideas on the aim of the discussions, and officials have cast doubt on whether they will in fact sit down at the same table.

AFP News agency quoted the armed opposition delegation spokesman Yehya al-Aridi as saying on Sunday there was “no final answer” on whether his team would sit down opposite the government delegation.

Two hours ahead of the talks, Kazakh deputy foreign minister Roman Vasilenko told reporters the format was still under discussion.

President Bashar al-Assad said the foreign-backed militants should lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal, and called for a “comprehensive” political solution to a conflict.

For their part, the armed opposition insisted the meeting will focus on bolstering a frail nationwide ceasefire brokered last month by opposition ally Turkey and regime backer Russia.

Organised by Turkey, Russia and Iran, the talks come a month after the government forces recaptured areas held by terrorist militants in Aleppo, scoring a major victory against the foreign-backed terrorists.

Source: Agencies