Syria foes say Geneva talks 'positive' Syria's opposition said peace talks with President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Geneva took a step forward on Wednesday with discussions on a transitional government after four days of deadlock. The regime delegation also said that "positive" talks had started on the Geneva I communique -- the statement put out by global powers during talks here in 2012 -- while stressing that the focus was on ending violence and "stopping terrorism". Images and soundbites of Bouthaina Shaaban, media advisor of the Syrian president