UN envoy says Syria constitution talks to resume, 4 killed

By ALBERT AJI and BASSEM MROUE
Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The U.N. special envoy for Syria says he expects a committee representing the Syrian government and the opposition to resume talks next month over draft constitutional reforms. Geir Pedersen’s comments on Wednesday came as government shelling killed four in the rebel-held northwest. Pedersen spoke to reporters in the capital Damascus after he met with Syrian officials over the country’s conflict. The talks were last held in Geneva in October when Pedersen said the Syrian government’s refusal to negotiate on revisions to the country’s constitution was a key reason for their failure. Syria’s conflict that began in March 2011, has killed half a million people.