UN: Syria government, opposition to begin drafting charter

The UN's envoy for Syria has announced that the Syrian government and opposition have agreed to start drafting constitutional reforms for the war-torn country

BEIRUT -- Syria's government and opposition in the war-torn country have agreed to start drafting constitutional reforms, the U.N. Syria envoy announced Sunday, a major step after a nine-month hiatus of talks and several fruitless rounds.

U.N. special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen didn’t say what was behind the agreement or offer details of what comes next. The drafting sessions formally begin Monday.

Pedersen met Sunday with the co-chairs of a committee which includes figures from fourth-term President Bashar Assad's government, as well as exiles and civil society representatives. The two sat together for the first time to discuss how to proceed, and plans for the week ahead, Pedersen said.

Thirty representatives divided between the two sides, along with 15 members of civil society, will be meeting with Pedersen in Geneva until Friday.