US envoy John Kerry meets Europe's top diplomats in Paris

PARIS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called for the resumption of Syria peace talks Monday in Geneva following a meeting with France's new foreign minister and other senior European diplomats.

Government forces advanced on the ancient city of Palmyra, which is held by the Islamic State group, while continuing to clash with jihadists and rebels in other parts of the country Sunday.

Al-Qaeda militants swept through a rebel-held town in northern Syria, arresting U.S.-backed fighters and looting weapons stores belonging to the Free Syrian Army.

Delegations from the Syrian government and opposition, represented in part by the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee, arrived in Geneva Sunday, but with conflicting visions for the talks.

[...] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallam said Saturday any talk of removing Assad during the transitional period was "a red line," adding that the government rejected the U.N. envoy's call for presidential elections to be held in the next 18 months.