Geneva talks to encompass Syrian transition process - U.N.

GENEVA (Reuters) - Syria peace talks due to start this week in Geneva are based on the broad mandate of a U.N. resolution that asks the U.N. mediator to hold talks on a "political transition process", an official involved in the talks said on Tuesday.

Last week the United Nations appeared to back away from using the phrase "political transition", which is understood by the opposition to mean a removal of President Bashar al-Assad or at least an erosion of his powers.