UN-mediated talks to end the war in Syria will start as planned in Geneva on Friday, January 28, UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told a briefing, but there was still no information about what was expected or who would turn up, Reuters reports.

"They will start as planned, but I don't have a time, I don't have a location and I can't tell you anything about the delegations ... later this morning we will have more news," Fawzi said. "There will be, I know, a statement made later today by the office of the special envoy."

"I can't give you a time, I can't give you a who, where, when," he said.