A new round of Russian-sponsored Syria peace talks kicked off in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on Tuesday. Representatives of Syria's armed opposition, negotiators from the Syrian government, Russia, Turkey and Iran joined the talks. 

Syrian government forces said they would suspend operations in southern cities from July 4 to 6. However, there have been reports of ceasefire violations.  

Syria's UN envoy Bashar Al-Jaafari met with the Iranian and Russian delegation in Astana, where they exchanged views on how to implement the framework agreement reached in May, which proposed setting up four de-escalation zones in Syria to suspend fighting between rebels and government forces.