Syrian government to open dialogue with opposition

According to news agencies, the Syrian government says the meeting in Damascus will begin discussion of possible reforms, including multi-party elections and a new media law.

However, many opposition leaders and protest organisers have refused to attend as rights groups estimate that more than 1,750 people, including 350 security personnel, have been killed during the protests.

The government has blamed "armed criminal gangs" for the unrest, which began in mid-March as protests swept other nations in the Middle East and North Africa.