Italy Hosts International Talks on Syria Future

Italy hosted international talks in Rome on Wednesday on the future of Syria after President Bashar Assad leaves power, the foreign ministry said.

The ministry's press office confirmed the talks were taking place but said they were being held behind closed doors with no access for journalists.

Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said last week that Italy would be hosting "informal talks with a group of allies and partner countries to discuss international roles and responsibilities in Syria after Assad."

"The talks will concern aspects of security, institution building, economic reconstruction and humanitarian aspects," Terzi wrote in La Repubblica daily.

Contacted by Agence France Presse, the foreign ministry said the meeting would be "at a level of senior officials from like-minded countries."