UN wants Syria transition, unclear if invites Iran to peace talk

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday reiterated that a Jan. 22 international peace conference on Syria would seek to establish a transitional government in the war-ravaged nation and he left open the question of the attendance of Iran.

"We have a clear goal," Ban told reporters. "The full implementation of the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012, including the establishment, based on mutual consent, of a transitional governing body with full executive powers, including over military and security entities." (Reuters)