Syrian government and opposition meet in presence of mediator - UN

Syrian government and opposition delegations held their first meeting in the presence of international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi on Saturday, a United Nations spokeswoman said. "The two Syrian delegations are now meeting together with the Joint Special Representative at the United Nations office at Geneva," the spokeswoman said.

The talks are supposed to launch political negotiations aimed at ending Syria's nearly three-year conflict. Diplomats say the two sides are likely to address any remarks on Saturday to Brahimi and not directly to each other.