UN: Syrians must 'seize opportunity' at peace talks

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said Syria's government and opposition will both attend peace talks for the first time - in Geneva on 22 January 2014.

It would be "unforgivable not to seize this opportunity to bring an end to the suffering and destruction", he warned.

Meanwhile, the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi said that the conference would hopefully be the start of a credible peace process for the country.