Top of the Morning: Syria Peace Talks Kick Off Today in Switzerland

Top stories from DAWNS Digest

Syria Peace Talks Kick Off Today in Switzerland

And expectations are low. “In nearly the same breath, the world’s most powerful diplomats have talked about the importance of this week’s peace conference on Syria and downplayed expectations for a breakthrough. The timeframe for the talks is a week to 10 days, and then a break — but for what, and for how long? Syria’s Western-backed opposition and President Bashar Assad’s handpicked representatives have never spoken face-to-face and it’s not at all clear how much either side — or their proxy powerbrokers — really want an end to the war.” (ABC http://abcn.ws/KBLGdD)

WFP Warns That Food Aid Will Run Out in Bangui

A convoy is stuck at the Cameroon border because of security concerns. “‘Well, the World Food Program is extremely concerned about food supplies into the Central African Republic. We have 38 WFP trucks that are carrying rice, that are blocked at the border coming in from Cameroon. This is going to affect our capacity to get those supplies that are needed so badly down to the capital Bangui and also to other parts of the country,’ [said WFP spokesperson Frances Kennedy]. She said it’s just too dangerous to send the food truck convoy on its way – as armed Muslim and Christian groups fight around the country. ‘There has been fighting on the road there and we have not yet been able to get those trucks unblocked,’ she said. Meanwhile, the distribution of dwindling food stocks continues.” (VOA http://bit.ly/KBOO9j)