Hopes for peace talks to end the conflict in Syria have faltered after a Syrian lawmaker and a leading opposition group both rejected the idea. Anti-government opposition leader Mouaz al-Khatib had indicated he would be willing to sit down with aides of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But the Syrian National Council, a leading voice in the coalition against Assad, has distanced itself from the proposal, calling it an “individual decision.” More than 60,000 people have died since the uprising against Assad began nearly two years ago.