UN-Led Syria Peace Talks To Begin In Vienna

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister has condemned the Trump administration's new policy of keeping American troops in the country indefinitely.

There are currently close to two thousand US troops on the ground in Syria.  

Faisal Mekdad described the approach - announced by the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson last week - as a hostile act.

It comes as a new round of Syrian peace talks led by the United Nations are due to start later today in Vienna. 

The UN's special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, says the two days of talks, which will involve government and opposition representatives, are taking place at a very critical moment.

He added that he is optimistic about the talks and that discussions would focus on the shape of a new constitution.

Meanwhile, Nasr al-Hariri, of the main opposition group the Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC), said that the next two days would be "a real test for all the sides". 

Previous rounds of peace talks have made little progress, with the government and opposition yet to meet face-to-face.

The Vienna talks come several days ahead of discussions that Russia is due to hold at its Black Sea resort of Sochi.