John Kerry Heading to the Middle East for Talks on Setting Up Syria Peace Conference

Hoping to bring representatives from the rebels and the Assad regime together

STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry travels Monday to the Middle East for talks on holding a Syrian peace conference. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he doubts the U.S./Russian initiative can stop the fighting.

The latest effort to end Syrian violence aims to bring together for the first time envoys from President Assad's government and its opponents.