New York: The 150-member committee selected to write a new constitution for Syria have agreed on a 45-member drafting body that will begin work on Monday, a first step on what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes will be a road to peace.

UN special envoy Geir Pedersen, who is facilitating meetings of the constitutional committee in Geneva, said late on Friday, New York time, its "dignified and forward-looking" opening session on Wednesday was followed by two days of "very successful" meetings.

Turkey and Russia launched joint patrols in north-eastern Syria on Friday. Credit:AP

At those meetings, he said, the 150 committee members were invited to make opening statements "offering initial ideas on constitutional issues and suggestions for the drafting body". A timeline has not yet been agreed, he said.

But the long process was understandable given "there are deep differences, a lot of suspicion, and a lack of trust".