War of words as peace talks open in Astana

The Syrian government's lead negotiator has denounced what he called his rebel counterpart's "provocative" comments at the start of peace talks in Astana.

Bashar Jaafari said on Monday Mohammed Alloush had acted in a way "removed from diplomacy" at the indirect talks convened by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Mr Alloush described the Syrian government as a "terrorist entity".

He also said a political solution to the civil war was the rebels' preferred choice, but "not the only one".The second and final day of the negotiations in Kazakhstan's capital is to get under way shortly.

They are the first talks at which the opposition delegation is formed exclusively of representatives of armed groups.

UN-brokered negotiations in Geneva involving exiled opposition political figures broke down last April with little progress having been made.

More than 300,000 people have been killed and 11 million others displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.

The talks opened on Monday morning at a hotel in Astana with the rebel delegation sat on one side of a large round table, and government officials on the other.

The talks opened on Monday morning at a hotel in Astana with the rebel delegation sat on one side of a large round table, and government officials on the other.

They were joined by representatives of Russia and Iran, which back Mr Assad, and Turkey, which supports the rebels, as well as UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura and the US ambassador to Kazakhstan.

The meeting was closed to the media after an address by Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov, who said it was time to "make the real breakthrough that Syrian people rightfully deserve".

Mr Jaafari, Syria's permanent representative to the UN, insisted he had delivered a "positive and optimistic" message.