Syrian government denounces 'insolent' rebel at first face-to-face talks

Talks aimed at ending the war in Syria have had a rocky start as rebels and government representatives met face-to-face for the first time.

The UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is taking part in the meetings, which are expected to be followed by more political talks in February in Geneva if successful.

But the first gathering, in Astana, Kazakhstan, had a fractious beginning when Syria's UN ambassador Bashar Jaafari denounced a speech by rebel representative Mohammad Alloush at the peace talks, calling it "insolent" and "provocative".

Mr Jaafari repeatedly referred to the rebel delegation as representatives of "terrorist armed groups".

He also said the agenda for the talks is "not ready yet".

Mr Alloush said the opposition is "ready to go to the ends of the Earth" to end the bloodshed in Syria.

He told reporters after an hour of talks that the rebels "are men of peace, and at the same time knights of war".

Mr Alloush is a political officer for the powerful Army of Islam faction fighting mostly around Damascus.

He attacked President Bashar al Assad's rule, calling it a "terror" state, and said only after the ceasefire becomes a "reality on the ground" can the two sides move forward.

He says the Syrian opposition will also insist at the talks that aid deliveries and other humanitarian demands are resumed.

Turkey's government said it was too much to expect a solution in a matter of days.

Deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said: "There are parties that have been at war with each other for six years around the table at Astana. A solution in one or two days should not be expected."

All parties involved in the war have welcomed the new attempts to thrash out an agreement, but the two sides have different ideas about how the discussions should progress.

Rebel groups have said the meeting will focus on bolstering a frail nationwide ceasefire agreed last month by opposition ally Turkey and regime backer Russia.

But Mr Assad has insisted that rebels lay down their arms in exchange for an amnesty deal, and called for a "comprehensive" political solution to a conflict that has killed more than 310,000 and displaced more than half of Syria's population.

The talks were organised by Turkey, Russia and Iran, and those states will resume discussions and possibly release a joint document on Tuesday.

The meetings come a month after the regime recaptured rebel areas of Aleppo, notching up its biggest victory since the start of the year.

Previous efforts at securing a long-term ceasefire in Syria have stalled as both sides sling accusations of violations at each other.

A source close to the opposition team said the delegation had been broadened from eight rebel figures to 14, as well as 21 legal and political advisers.

US President Donald Trump's administration was invited to participate in the talks but no one was sent.

Instead, Washington will be represented by its ambassador to Kazakhstan, while a European diplomatic source said France and Britain would also be represented at ambassador level.