UN Security Council Agrees Syria Peace Process Resolution

The five permanent of the UN Security Council have agreed the text of a draft UN resolution for the Syrian peace process, diplomats say.

The 15-member council is expected to adopt the resolution later on Friday, officials said.

World powers have been meeting in New York with the aim of advancing a tentative plan to bring about a ceasefire in Syria.

The Syrian war, which is heading towards its fifth year, has killed more than 250,000 people, the BBC reports.
Nearly 12 million people have also been displaced, the UN says.

The draft text asks the UN to bring together the Syrian government and the opposition for talks by early January.
It also said that a ceasefire should be implemented in parallel with the talks.

However, actions against groups considered terrorist organisations would not be affected. This would allow Russian, French and US air-strikes against Islamic State to continue.

However, one of the major sticking points so far has been which rebel groups should be considered terrorist outfits and consequently excluded from any talks or ceasefire.