The Guardian | Patrick Wintour : Leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran to meet in Sochi to push ceasefire and constitution plan as Assad�s opponents convene in Riyadh
With a flurry of diplomatic activity, two separate summits on Syria are to be staged this week to put decisive pressure on both sides to end the civil war and thrash out a new constitution that is likely to leave President�Bashar al-Assad�in power.
With Islamic State crushed and the democratic opposition to Assad also in military retreat, the three key regional powers � Russia, Iran and�Turkey�� will meet in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Wednesday to discuss how to wind down hostilities and draw up a political settlement.
On the same day but separately, as many as 30 groups opposed to Assad will gather in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia�s capital, for three days of talks aimed at forming a broad negotiating team before UN peace talks resume in Geneva on 28 November.