GENEVA (AFP) - The next round of talks aimed at easing the violence in war-torn Syria will be held at the UN's European headquarters in Geneva early next year, a UN spokesman said Tuesday (Dec 22).

"The talks will take place in Geneva, but we don't have the exact date," UN spokesman Rheal LeBlanc told AFP.

Last week, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous support to a plan to end Syria's brutal civil war by summoning rebels and the regime to the negotiating table.

With crucial backing from the United States and Russia, the plan aims to install a ceasefire in Syria, possibly in January, when talks could also begin.

The UN special envoy on the near-five year conflict, Staffan de Mistura, said last week he would send out invitations to talks next month.