Associated Reporters Abroad (ARA) - Professional freelance journalists reporting for media outlets worldwide

AMMAN, Jordan - Peace talks in Switzerland to end the Syrian civil war began Wednesday with the United States and Syrian diplomats clashing over a sticking point that has existed for months — whether President Bashar Assad can remain in power.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Assad's violent crackdown on peaceful dissent in a nearly three-year war means he cannot stay.

Read more at USA Today