The presidents of Russia and Turkey are pushing for the creation of safe-zones in war-torn Syria as talks were expected to resume on Thursday in Kazakhstan between the regime and opposition.

Meeting in the Russian resort town of Sochi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin expressed hope on Wednesday the Syrian regime and opposition would adopt this latest proposal to "de-escalate" the war.

Turkey and Russia are deeply entangled in the war in Syria, including each having troops on the ground - Ankara supporting various Syrian opposition factions and Moscow backing Bashar al-Assad's forces.

The opposition suspended their participation at the talks in Astana, the Kazakh capital, on Wednesday in protest of air strikes targeting areas under their control in Syria, demanding a halt to the regime's bombardment.

The Syrian armed opposition will return to the talks on Thursday, RIA news agency quoted a source close to the negotiations as saying. Reuters news agency reported the opposition delegation had not yet arrived at the venue.

Russian representatives had presented the opposition with a proposal for four "de-escalation zones" in Syria where the warring sides would be separated by "security lines".

Putin said Russian and Syrian regime jets would halt flights over the specified zones if all sides respect the ceasefire.

The proposal presented to the opposition in Astana delineates four zones in Syria where front lines between the regime and opposition forces would be frozen and fighting halted, according to a statement made by rebels.

The four include areas in the provinces of Idlib and Homs, the eastern Ghouta suburbs outside Damascus, and an area in the south of the country.

The zones, according to a document received by opposition, would be monitored by international observers and allow for the voluntary return of refugees.

PHOTO CAPTION

Participants of Syria peace talks attend a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan March 15, 2017. REUTERS

Al-Jazeera