U.N. launches Syria peace talks despite opposition boycott

By Tom Miles and Tom Perry GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The first Syria peace talks for two years were a "complete failure" before they started on Friday, a Western diplomat said, after the United Nations announced it would press ahead with them despite an opposition boycott. Opponents of President Bashar al-Assad said they were far more concerned with fending off a Russian-backed military onslaught, with civilians reported to be fleeing as the Syrian army and allied militia tried to capture a subu