UN envoy warns against Syria collapse at crisis talks

A UN envoy urged foreign powers to work to avoid a collapse of vital Syrian institutions following the downfall of leader Bashar al-Assad, as diplomats gathered in Jordan for a conference on the crisis.

Geir Pedersen, the U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, also backed a “credible and inclusive” political process to form the next government as he met U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We need to make sure that state institutions do not collapse and that we get in humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible,” Mr. Pedersen said.

“If we can achieve that, perhaps there is a new opportunity for the Syrian people,” he said.

Top Arab, Turkish, EU, and U.S. diplomats are holding talks in the Jordanian Red Sea resort city of Aqaba less than a week after militants toppled Assad.