Negotiators zero in on potential deal to disarm Syria's last battleground

Negotiators are zeroing in on a potential deal to resolve one of the most explosive questions looming over Syria 's future.

The fate of Kurdish forces that the U.S. considers key allies but neighbouring Turkey regards as a national security threat.

Many thorny issues need to be resolved, including how to integrate the SDF alliance's fighters into Syria 's security framework.

Officials on all sides worry that failure to reach a ceasefire and longer-term political accord in the northeast could destabilise Syria .

Failure to resolve the fate of Kurdish factions in Syria could also undermine efforts to end the PKK 's insurgency in Turkey .

The United Nations has warned of "dramatic consequences" for Syria and the region if a political solution is not found.

"But the arrival of someone as unpredictable as Trump must worry them in a way too." (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul , Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara and Maya Gebeily in Damascus ; Addional reporting by Timour Azhari in Damascus , Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman , Tom Perry in Beirut , Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad and Orhan Qereman in Qamishli , Syria ; Editing by Alexandra Zavis ).