( CNN ) -- After 21 months of bloodshed and a failure by the international community to do anything to stop it , the U.N.-Arab League point man on the Syrian crisis expressed confidence Sunday that a political resolution is possible . Lakhdar Brahimi 's optimism followed talks in Geneva with Russian Deputy Foreign Mikhail Bogdanov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns , which he called `` constructive and held in a spirit of cooperation . '' Getting Russia on board any international plan is seen as key because it has been an ally of Syria 's government and blocked tough measures against President Bashar al-Assad in the U.N. Security Council . In a statement , Brahimi said the diplomats `` explored avenues to move forward a peaceful process and mobilize greater international action in favor of a political solution . '' `` All three parties reaffirmed their common assessment that the situation in Syria was bad and getting worse , '' said Brahimi , who was appointed a joint special representative in August , according to a story on the U.N. news website . `` They stressed a political process to end the crisis was necessary and still possible . '' This conviction comes at a time when violence in Syria continues to rage . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that more than 40,000 people have been killed , with half a million seeking refuge in other countries and nearly 3 million internally displaced . The grim toll grew yet again on Sunday , with the opposition Local Coordination Committees reporting at least 116 deaths nationwide , including 10 children and four women . Forty-one of those deaths were in and around Damascus , and 32 were in Aleppo , including 20 burned near a Syrian Air Force Intelligence facility . In addition to civilians caught in the crossfire , Sunday saw more skirmishes involved organized fighting forces on both sides . The LCC said there were 97 clashes Sunday between Syrian troops and rebel Free Syrian Army members , who have made inroads around the Middle Eastern country in recent weeks . Opposition fighters have also taken steps of late to unify their ranks , with disparate Free Syrian Army units agreeing Friday to appoint a civilian rebel council leader and a military council leader for each Syrian province . The commanders will be under the leadership of a newly named chief of staff , Gen. Salim Idris , Free Syrian Army spokesman Louay Almokdad said . The united military front follows the creation of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces , a new coalition of groups opposed to al-Assad 's leadership . The United States , in particular , has pushed for opposition factions to unite . Another diplomatic focus has been trying to find a common international approach to Syria , in hopes that shared thinking -- especially involving friends of al-Assad -- can hasten an end of the war . U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov joined Brahimi last Thursday in Belfast , Northern Ireland , to discuss Syria . Clinton said that meeting did n't produce a `` breakthrough , '' but it was a start . She called for all facets of Syrian society -- except for al-Assad -- to be part of any transition . Russia said the countries should brainstorm with Brahimi on a peaceful transition and a political settlement . The possibility that Syrian forces could employ deadly chemical weapons -- something Damascus has denied -- has heightened the sense of urgency . Syrian forces began combining chemicals that would be used to make deadly sarin gas for use in weapons to attack rebel and civilian populations , a U.S. official told CNN last week . That possibility triggered international outcry , including from Russia , which sent strong messages to al-Assad warning him he 'd lose their support if he used chemical weapons . The United States and some European allies are using defense contractors to train Syrian rebels on how to secure chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria , a senior U.S. official and several senior diplomats told CNN Sunday . The training , which is taking place in Jordan and Turkey , involves how to monitor and secure stockpiles and handle weapons sites and materials , according to the sources . Some of the contractors are on the ground in Syria working with the rebels to monitor some of the sites , according to one of the officials .
The Arab League envoy on Syria meets with Russian and Syrian officials . He says they ` ` stressed a political process to end the violence '' is still feasible . Hundreds were killed around Syria on Friday , an opposition source reports .