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| Syria crisis: Geneva peace talks end in recriminations | Syria crisis: Geneva peace talks end in recriminations |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Syrian government and opposition have traded insults after a week-long peace conference in Geneva ended with no firm agreement. | The Syrian government and opposition have traded insults after a week-long peace conference in Geneva ended with no firm agreement. |
| Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the opposition were immature, while the opposition's Louay Safi said the regime had no desire to stop the bloodshed. | Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the opposition were immature, while the opposition's Louay Safi said the regime had no desire to stop the bloodshed. |
| However, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said he had seen some "common ground", and scheduled more talks for 10 February. | However, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said he had seen some "common ground", and scheduled more talks for 10 February. |
| The opposition has agreed to take part, but Mr Muallem refused to commit. | The opposition has agreed to take part, but Mr Muallem refused to commit. |
| "We represent the concerns and interests of our people. If we find that [another meeting] is their demand, then we will come back," he told reporters. | "We represent the concerns and interests of our people. If we find that [another meeting] is their demand, then we will come back," he told reporters. |
| Mr Safi said the opposition would not sit in talks "endlessly", and urged the government to "talk seriously about transferring power". | Mr Safi said the opposition would not sit in talks "endlessly", and urged the government to "talk seriously about transferring power". |
| The two sides discussed humanitarian issues and possible ways to end the violence. | The two sides discussed humanitarian issues and possible ways to end the violence. |
| They made some agreements on local ceasefires to allow access for humanitarian workers. | They made some agreements on local ceasefires to allow access for humanitarian workers. |
| UN aid chief Valerie Amos said the deals had allowed some aid to get through to a few thousand families. | |
| But she said that, so far, an agreed ceasefire in the besieged city of Homs had not had any effect, and no aid has got through. | But she said that, so far, an agreed ceasefire in the besieged city of Homs had not had any effect, and no aid has got through. |
| Parts of Homs have been under government siege for more than 18 months. Some residents have told the BBC that they are eating grass to survive. | Parts of Homs have been under government siege for more than 18 months. Some residents have told the BBC that they are eating grass to survive. |
| More than 100,000 people have died in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. | More than 100,000 people have died in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. |
| Rebels not represented | Rebels not represented |
| Mr Brahimi said: "Progress is very slow indeed, but the sides have engaged in an acceptable manner. This is a very modest beginning, but it is a beginning on which we can build." | Mr Brahimi said: "Progress is very slow indeed, but the sides have engaged in an acceptable manner. This is a very modest beginning, but it is a beginning on which we can build." |
| Though the gap between the two sides was "wide", they had become used to sitting in the same room, he said. | Though the gap between the two sides was "wide", they had become used to sitting in the same room, he said. |
| "There have been moments when one side has even acknowledged the concerns and difficulties of the other side," he said. | "There have been moments when one side has even acknowledged the concerns and difficulties of the other side," he said. |
| The first round of talks, between the government and the opposition National Coalition, ended after a week. | The first round of talks, between the government and the opposition National Coalition, ended after a week. |
| However, several rebel elements, such as the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, are not represented at the Geneva discussions. | However, several rebel elements, such as the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, are not represented at the Geneva discussions. |
| Key issues are halting the violence, getting humanitarian aid to get to besieged communities, and a future political settlement. | Key issues are halting the violence, getting humanitarian aid to get to besieged communities, and a future political settlement. |
| Both sides agreed to use a 2012 document known as the Geneva Communique as a basis for discussions. | Both sides agreed to use a 2012 document known as the Geneva Communique as a basis for discussions. |
| The document includes proposals for a transitional government and democratic elections. | The document includes proposals for a transitional government and democratic elections. |
| The opposition has insisted on addressing the transitional government issue - which it believes would mean President Bashar al-Assad stepping down. | The opposition has insisted on addressing the transitional government issue - which it believes would mean President Bashar al-Assad stepping down. |
| But the government has been stressing that the first step is to discuss "terrorism". | But the government has been stressing that the first step is to discuss "terrorism". |
| Diplomats have said that a top priority in Geneva is to keep the talks process going, in the hope that hard-line positions can be modified over time. | Diplomats have said that a top priority in Geneva is to keep the talks process going, in the hope that hard-line positions can be modified over time. |