Direct talks planned for second day of Geneva II Syria peace conference

Leaders of the two main factions in Syria's bloody civil war will meet face to face for the first time Saturday.

UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi convened a press conference on Friday after what was supposed to be the first day of direct talks between delegates from the opposition Syrian Coalition and the Syrian government, announcing that the two sides would meet face to face on Saturday and that both sides had accepted the principles set forth in the Geneva I communique.

It will be the first time the two groups will address each other directly. Brahimi, in the role of mediator, met separately with the delegations on Friday to resolve their respective issues. He expressed optimism at the end of the day, saying "The discussions I've had with the two parties were encouraging and we are looking forward to our meetings."

The UN has maintained that the Geneva I communique is the foundation for Geneva II. The communique calls for "the establishment of a transitional governing body with full executive powers."

An international summit in Montreux, Switzerland on Wednesday preceded Friday's meetings. The UN convened the two-part conference, with the U.S. and Russia serving as co-hosts.

[BBC] [United Nations]