The five permanent UN Security Council members have agreed the text of a draft UN resolution for the Syrian peace process, diplomats say.

The 15-member council is expected to adopt the resolution later on Friday, officials added.

World powers have been meeting in New York to try to advance a tentative plan to bring about a ceasefire in Syria.

The Syrian war, which is heading towards its fifth year, has killed more than 250,000 people.

Nearly 12 million people have also been displaced, the UN says.

The draft text asks the UN to bring together the Syrian government and the opposition for talks by early January.

It also said that a ceasefire should be implemented in parallel with the talks.

However, actions against groups considered terrorist organisations would not be affected.

This would allow Russian, French and US air-strikes against Islamic State to continue.

However, one of the major sticking points so far has been which rebel groups should be considered terrorist outfits and consequently excluded from any talks or ceasefire.

A formal Security Council vote on the agreement is expected to take place at 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT).