UN envoy: 1st phase of Syria talks end Friday

GENEVA (AP) — U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi says the first phase of the Syria peace talks in Geneva will end on Friday, as scheduled.

Brahimi told reporters that the gap between the two sides remains "quite large" and that he does not expect any substantial achievements.

Still, he said Wednesday, the "ice is breaking slowly."

He said both sides will decide on Friday when the second phase of the talks will take place.