Rebels arrive for talks with regime

Members of the Syrian opposition delegation yesterday arrived in the Kazakh capital Astana for face-to-face peace talks with the war-torn nation's government.

The talks, set to begin today, will be the first time a delegation composed exclusively of rebel groups will negotiate with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Rebels have insisted the talks will focus solely on reinforcing a frail nationwide truce brokered by opposition supporter Turkey and regime ally Russia last month.

Although the two countries have backed opposing sides of Syria's nearly six-year conflict, they have worked hand-in-hand in recent weeks to secure an end to the brutal war that has killed more than 300,000.