CORRECTS - Participants in Syria peace talks arrive in Astana

CORRECTS SPOT, CHANGES SATURDAY TO SUNDAY

By Mohammad Misto

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AA) – Representatives from the Syrian government and the opposition delegation have arrived in the Kazakh capital of Astana for Monday's meeting to end the six-year conflict in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan said on Sunday.

In an official statement. the Foreign Ministry announced that participants in Monday’s Syria talks consist of seven representatives from the Syrian regime, the Syrian opposition, Russia, Turkey, Iran, the U.S. as well as the UN Special Envoy for Syria.

“Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, has been chosen as the neutral ground for all sides to conduct their negotiations. Please be informed that the talks will be held behind closed doors,” the statement said.

About 50 representatives from the opposition side -- including advisers -- will participate in the one-day talks that will take place at the Rixos President Astana Hotel.

On saturday, the U.S. said it would not send an official delegation to the Syria peace talks citing "the immediate demands of the" presidential transition.

Instead, Washington. will be represented by its Kazakhstan envoy, acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner told Anadolu Agency.

Following last month's cease-fire deal, brokered by Turkey and Russia, the Astana meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts by both countries to find a political solution to the six-year-old conflict in Syria.

Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been killed and millions more displaced by the conflict.