Syria talks under way, Damascus insists Assad will stay

United Nations Peace Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi speaks during a news conference after meeting Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, the government headquarters, in Beirut November 1, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

GENEVA (Reuters) - Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met U.S. and Russian officials on Tuesday to discuss convening long-delayed Syrian peace talks this year despite disputes over President Bashar al-Assad's future and whether his ally Iran can attend.

Hours earlier, Damascus reiterated that Assad will stay in power come what may, casting doubt on the political transition that is the main focus of the proposed "Geneva 2" conference.