Syria foes clash over Assad, atrocities at first meeting
Western powers and Russia seek to set aside differences over whether Assad must be forced to make way for an interim administration and back the conference as a way to stop communal and sectarian violence spreading across the region
Children hold plastic buckets as they wait for food in eastern al-Ghouta, near Damascus
REFILE - ADDING KEYWORDS Children hold plastic buckets as they wait for food in eastern al-Ghouta, near Damascus January 21, 2014. Picture taken January 21, 2014. Picture taken January 21, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammed Abdullah (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT FOOD)
A Syrian refugee boy watches the geneva talks at the port city of Sidon, southern Lebanon
Syrian refugees watch the Geneva-2 peace conference on television at the port city of Sidon, southern Lebanon January 22, 2014. Syria's government and its enemies came face to face for the first time on Wednesday at a one-day peace conference in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY IMMIGRATION MEDIA CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Syrian refugee man is reflected in a mirror as he watches the Geneva-2 peace conference on television in Sidon
A Syrian refugee man is reflected in a mirror as he watches the Geneva-2 peace conference on television at the port city of Sidon, southern Lebanon January 22, 2014. Syria's government and its enemies came face to face for the first time on Wednesday at a one-day peace conference in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON - - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MEDIA SOCIETY IMMIGRATION)
People are seen at a cafe in Damascus
People are seen at a cafe in Damascus January 22, 2014. Syria's government and its enemies came face to face for the first time on Wednesday at a one-day peace conference in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY)
People are seen at a cafe in Damascus
People are seen at a cafe in Damascus January 22, 2014. Syria's government and its enemies came face to face for the first time on Wednesday at a one-day peace conference in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT SOCIETY CIVIL UNREST)
People are seen at a cafe, as a television shows footage of the peace conference in Switzerland, in Damascus
People are seen at a cafe, as a television shows footage of the peace conference in Switzerland, in Damascus January 22, 2014. Syria's government and its enemies came face to face for the first time on Wednesday at a one-day peace conference in Switzerland which world powers hope can at least start a process to end three years of civil war. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT SOCIETY CIVIL UNREST)
Children hold plastic buckets as they wait for food in eastern al-Ghouta, near Damascus
Children hold plastic buckets as they wait for food in eastern al-Ghouta, near Damascus January 21, 2014. Picture taken January 21, 2014. Picture taken January 21, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammed Abdullah (SYRIA
Saudi minister says no role for Assad in transition
SYRIA-CRISIS/TALKS-SAUDI (URGENT, PIX, TV):Saudi minister says no role for Assad in transition