Syria’s new rulers have kicked off a long-awaited national dialogue conference as an “exceptional and rare historical opportunity” to rebuild the country after nearly 14 years of cvil war and the fall of former President Bashar Assad.

Although the conference was called to chart the country’s future, the Kurdish-led militia that controls much of Syria’s northeast was not invited.

Syria's new authorities will hold a national dialogue conference starting on February 25 to discuss a new path for the nation after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December, two members of its preparatory committee said on Sunday.

A long-awaited national dialogue conference intended to help chart Syria’s political future after the fall of former President Bashar Assad is set to begin.

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria's new authorities will hold a national dialogue conference starting on February 25 to discuss the country's future, two members of its preparatory committee said on Sunday.

Hundreds of Syrians will gather in Damascus on Tuesday for a one-day national dialogue conference, billed by the country's Islamist rulers as a key milestone in the transition to a new political system after decades of Assad rule.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Participants from across Syria gathered on Tuesday to commence the much-anticipated Syrian National Dialogue Conference despite lacking representation from the Kurdish-held northeast.

A Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC) representative on Monday said that its members have declined an invitation to attend the Syrian National Dialogue Congress, saying the event is poorly structured and excludes Kurdish political representation.