Syria peace conference Geneva II begins with bitter speeches
Syria's government and main political opposition have traded bitter accusations as a major peace conference begins in Switzerland.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged delegates to engage in constructive discussions, but neither side appeared prepared to abandon their positions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was "no way possible" President Bashar al-Assad could remain in power.
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In an often angry opening speech, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said some states attending the talks had "Syrian blood on their hands" and were trying to destabilise the country.
"Syria the independent state will do all that is necessary to defend itself," he said, and that "nobody in this world has the right to withdraw the legitimacy of a president or government ... other than the Syrians themselves".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25836827
