Fiery exchanges over Assad's fate stalling peace talks in Switzerland

Peace talks to end the bloodshed in Syria ended in fiery exchanges as the warring sides and global powers clashed over President Bashar al-Assad's fate.

The UN peace conference in Switzerland began to discuss ways to bring an end to violence and bloodshed in the war-torn Syria.

According to news.com.au, United Nations leader Ban Ki-moon urged Syria's regime and opposition to finally work together at the table.

Branding the opposition 'traitors' and foreign agents, Syrian officials insisted Assad would not give up power, while the opposition said he must step down and face trial.

Ahmad Jarba, the head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, called on the regime to 'immediately' sign a deal reached at the last peace conference in Geneva in 2012 setting out 'the transfer of powers from Assad, including for the army and security, to a transition government,' the report said.

Leading a series of sharp US accusations against the Syrian regime, Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Assad cannot be part of any transitional government, it added.