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United Nations peace talks attempting to resolve the Syrian civil war began on Friday—all without a delegation representing the rebels who oppose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The talks, as one western diplomat told Reuters, were a "complete failure" before they had even begun. However, United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Friday that he expects to hold talks with the opposition this coming weekend. Syria's civil war has devastated the country for the past five years, causing many to flee.