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| Syria conflict: UN concerned over Homs detentions | Syria conflict: UN concerned over Homs detentions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UN aid agencies have expressed concern about the safety of scores of men and boys detained by the Syrian authorities after being evacuated from Homs. | UN aid agencies have expressed concern about the safety of scores of men and boys detained by the Syrian authorities after being evacuated from Homs. |
| More than 300 male evacuees have been held for screening after leaving the Old City under an agreed ceasefire. | More than 300 male evacuees have been held for screening after leaving the Old City under an agreed ceasefire. |
| Talal Barazi, governor of Homs, says 111 men have been questioned and released, while 190 others are still being held. | Talal Barazi, governor of Homs, says 111 men have been questioned and released, while 190 others are still being held. |
| More than 1,100 people have fled the city since Friday under a truce. | More than 1,100 people have fled the city since Friday under a truce. |
| Aid organisations in Syria are hoping to evacuate more civilians on Tuesday after the ceasefire was extended by three days. | Aid organisations in Syria are hoping to evacuate more civilians on Tuesday after the ceasefire was extended by three days. |
| The UN human rights office says it is "deeply concerned" that boys and men were seized as they left the besieged area. | The UN human rights office says it is "deeply concerned" that boys and men were seized as they left the besieged area. |
| "It is essential that they do not come to any harm," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN commissioner for Human Rights. | "It is essential that they do not come to any harm," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN commissioner for Human Rights. |
| "We will continue to press for their proper treatment according to the international humanitarian and human rights law." | "We will continue to press for their proper treatment according to the international humanitarian and human rights law." |
| Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said detainees were being held at an abandoned school. | Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said detainees were being held at an abandoned school. |
| "We are monitoring the situation. We are definitely taking account of the number there and who is there," she said. | "We are monitoring the situation. We are definitely taking account of the number there and who is there," she said. |
| Meanwhile, face-to-face negotiations between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva have been adjourned for the day. | Meanwhile, face-to-face negotiations between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva have been adjourned for the day. |
| A second round of peace talks was held on Monday with separate meetings between UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and the two sides. | |
| "The beginning of this week is as laborious as it was in the first week. We are not making much progress," he told a news conference at the United Nations headquarters. | |
| The first round ended last month with no firm agreements and both sides trading insults. | The first round ended last month with no firm agreements and both sides trading insults. |
| The opposition wants the government to commit in writing to the 2012 Geneva Communique, which called for the formation of a transitional administration with full executive authority. | The opposition wants the government to commit in writing to the 2012 Geneva Communique, which called for the formation of a transitional administration with full executive authority. |
| President Bashar al-Assad's government has ruled out any transfer of power. | President Bashar al-Assad's government has ruled out any transfer of power. |
| 'Destitution' | 'Destitution' |
| On the ground, efforts are continuing to evacuate hundreds more women, children and elderly people from Homs, which has been under siege for 18 months. | On the ground, efforts are continuing to evacuate hundreds more women, children and elderly people from Homs, which has been under siege for 18 months. |
| More than 450 civilians left on Monday, amid mortar fire and shooting. | More than 450 civilians left on Monday, amid mortar fire and shooting. |
| The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Homs, said it was not expected that so many young men would try to leave. | The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Homs, said it was not expected that so many young men would try to leave. |
| So their fate is being scrutinised very closely, our correspondent adds. | So their fate is being scrutinised very closely, our correspondent adds. |
| She was at a press conference on Tuesday where the Homs governor gave the latest figures on how many detainees had been released. | She was at a press conference on Tuesday where the Homs governor gave the latest figures on how many detainees had been released. |
| He said he expected around 80% of those held would be let free. | He said he expected around 80% of those held would be let free. |
| Matthew Hollingworth, Syria director for the UN's World Food Programme, told the BBC "the floodgates have opened" as many more people try to leave. | Matthew Hollingworth, Syria director for the UN's World Food Programme, told the BBC "the floodgates have opened" as many more people try to leave. |
| "The levels of destitution inside the Old City are like nothing I've ever seen before," he said. | "The levels of destitution inside the Old City are like nothing I've ever seen before," he said. |
| "People are living in tunnels underground, moving between shells of buildings to find roots to eat - there has been little food for many, many months now." | "People are living in tunnels underground, moving between shells of buildings to find roots to eat - there has been little food for many, many months now." |
| Traumatised | Traumatised |
| UN aid chief Valerie Amos welcomed the extension of a three-day truce on Monday. | UN aid chief Valerie Amos welcomed the extension of a three-day truce on Monday. |
| But she also confirmed that 11 people were killed after the relief operation was "deliberately targeted". It is unclear who was responsible for the attack. | But she also confirmed that 11 people were killed after the relief operation was "deliberately targeted". It is unclear who was responsible for the attack. |
| She said that many of those who had left the city so far appeared traumatised and weak after enduring many months of siege. | She said that many of those who had left the city so far appeared traumatised and weak after enduring many months of siege. |
| Writing in the UK's Independent newspaper, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague warned that the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 - when more than 8,000 men and boys were killed in a Bosnian town - could be repeated in the Old City of Homs. | Writing in the UK's Independent newspaper, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague warned that the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 - when more than 8,000 men and boys were killed in a Bosnian town - could be repeated in the Old City of Homs. |
| He said it was time to "turn up the heat" on the Syrian government. | He said it was time to "turn up the heat" on the Syrian government. |
| However, Russia and China failed to attend a meeting in New York to discuss a new UN Security Council resolution calling for greater access for humanitarian aid on Monday. | However, Russia and China failed to attend a meeting in New York to discuss a new UN Security Council resolution calling for greater access for humanitarian aid on Monday. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed the draft resolution as one-sided and "detached from reality", according to Interfax news agency. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed the draft resolution as one-sided and "detached from reality", according to Interfax news agency. |
| Syria's civil conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes. | Syria's civil conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes. |