International powers seek compromise to end Syria war, start transition

The Syrian government's biggest international backers and opponents plunged into negotiations on Oct. 30 over a long-sought compromise to help end the four-and-a-half year civil war and potentially ease President Bashar al-Assad out of power. 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was "hopeful" of finding a path forward.

"I am hopeful that we can find a way forward," Kerry told reporters, before adding: "It is very difficult."

In Austria's capital, Kerry was negotiating with foreign ministers and senior representatives of 18 other countries following a first day of talks with his Turkish, Russian and Saudi Arabian counterparts. Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlio?lu represented Ankara in the talks.

The countries involved in the Oct. 30 talks included Iran for the first time, making it the broadest gathering of nations yet to discuss Syria's future. Another key supporter of al-Assad, Russia, was present, along with many of the U.S.'s most influential Arab and European allies.

Several participants argued that the talks themselves were a sign of progress. But with no end to the war in sight, there was pressure on all sides to begin chipping away at a "political transition" plan that might convince Assad's government and the vast array of armed rebel groups to stop fighting and allow world powers to focus on their shared commitment to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 

As the Vienna talks were taking place, the Syrian opposition reported that a government missile barrage killed more than 40 people in a Damascus suburb. 

The conflict has claimed more than 250,000 lives and uprooted more than 11 million people since 2011, leading to the growing terrorist threat of ISIL and sparking...