Diplomats discuss Syria at international gathering in Riyadh

Top diplomats from regional countries and the West are gathering in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Sunday to discuss the situation in war-torn Syria, more than a month after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The international gathering began with a meeting between Arab foreign ministers and their Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the Saudi state television al-Ekhbariya reported.

Their talks are set to be followed by an Arab-international meeting, the broadcaster added.

Foreign ministers from Syria's neighbouring countries - Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon - as well as those of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, have arrived in Riyadh to attend the talks, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported.

Syria's interim foreign minister, Hassan al-Shibani, is also present.

Top diplomats from Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Spain as well as the EU foreign policy chief, the UN envoy for Syria and a US representative are expected to participate, according to the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for the German Foreign Office said the conference in Riyadh would follow up on discussions at a meeting held in Jordan in mid-December.

He noted that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had presented an eight-point plan for Syria, which calls for a peaceful transition to a political system that grants rights and representation to all groups in Syrian society as well as addressing the atrocious crimes of the al-Assad regime.

During a visit to Syria earlier this month, Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot sought to set clear conditions for European Union support to the country.