UN sending invitations to Syria peace talks

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is sending out invitations Monday to potential participants in Syrian peace talks scheduled in Switzerland this month, the U.N. media office said.The U.N. statement said the list of invitees was determined at a December 20 meeting between the United Nations, the United States, and RussiaThe conference “aims to bring two broadly representative and credible delegations of the Syrian government and opposition to a negotiating table in order to end the conflict and launch a political transition,” the statement said“The secretary-general views the conference as a unique opportunity for ending the violence and ensuring that peace can be restored,” the statement said. “At the core of this effort is the establishment of a transitional governing body based on mutual consent.”