THE fourth round of Syrian peace talks finally got under way in Geneva yesterday after being postponed twice by United Nations mediators.

The negotiations follow the same pattern as those in 2016, with UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura meeting separately with the government delegation, led by Syrian UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari, and insurgents’ representatives.

He said he hoped to convene a “sort of welcoming ceremony” and bilateral talks later in the day.