Syria peace talks to tackle political transition as violence surges

Talks to end Syria's five-year conflict resumed in Geneva Wednesday, with the UN mediator vowing to tackle the thorny issue of a political transition, as surging violence threatened a fragile truce. Adding to the tensions, Syrians in government-controlled areas voted Wednesday in parliamentary elections not recognised by the United Nations or by President Bashar al-Assad's main opponents. In Geneva, UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said he planned to engage the parties in concrete discussions a