Syrian government to participate in UN peace talks

Syria's government is prepared to take part in UN-brokered peace talks aimed at finding a political solution to the four-year conflict in the country, a report by the BBC claims.

The UN has said it hopes to convene the talks in Geneva towards the end of January.

Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said it would be ready as soon as they receive a list of the opposition delegation.

According to reports, the warring parties and the world powers backing them have to agree which rebel groups will be designated as "terrorists" and not represented.

The uprising against President Bashar al-Assad started in 2011, killing over 250,000 people, and forcing over 11 million others from their homes.

"Syria is ready to participate in the Syrian-Syrian Dialogue in Geneva without any foreign interference," the BBC reports Muallem saying.

"We hope that this dialogue will be successful to help us in having a national unity government," he added.

The BBC adds that the UN Security Council unanimously backed a resolution endorsing a road map for the peace process, including negotiations, a ceasefire and elections, last Friday. However, the resolution avoided contentious issues, including who could represent the opposition at the peace talks and the fate of Assad.

The resolution outlined that political transition should be Syrian-led, and led to establishment of "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance" within six months, and that free and fair elections under UN supervision to be held within 18 months.