(VOVworld) - The US and a host of international powers agreed Friday to resume United Nations-backed peace talks on Syria, but with a recognition that President Bashar al-Assad will remain in power for the foreseeable future. The agreement, reached on Friday after seven hours of discussions, is meant to advance talks on a new constitution and elections. The participants in Vienna, including the United States and Russia, said "substantial differences remain" though they agreed it was "imperative to accelerate all diplomatic efforts to end the war" and the ministers will reconvene within two weeks. They urged to speed up negotiations that could lead to a credible, inclusive, non-sectarian governance in Syria.