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Syria conflict: UN hopes to resume Homs evacuation Syria conflict: UN hopes to resume Homs evacuation
(about 7 hours later)
Aid agencies are hoping to resume the evacuation of civilians from Syria's besieged city of Homs, a day after the operation was suspended.Aid agencies are hoping to resume the evacuation of civilians from Syria's besieged city of Homs, a day after the operation was suspended.
UN local aid chief Yacoub El Hillo told the BBC it was "crucial" that the operation continued, describing his visit to Homs as like a "day in hell".
Hundreds of civilians remain trapped in the Old City - a hub of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.Hundreds of civilians remain trapped in the Old City - a hub of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
There are also concerns about the safety of scores of men and boys held by the authorities for screening after leaving Homs earlier.
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.
Homs, in western Syria, has been under siege for 18 months by government troops. The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Homs, says discussions went on all day on Tuesday on how to continue the evacuations, and how to bring more food and medicine into the Old City.
But she says the longer the operation goes on, the more it seems to expose the divides in Syria.
Meanwhile, little progress was reported on the second day of talks on Tuesday between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva, Switzerland.Meanwhile, little progress was reported on the second day of talks on Tuesday between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva, Switzerland.
'Day in hell'
The aid agencies said they would make a further attempt to evacuate Homs civilians on Wednesday.
Despite the continuing violence and danger to aid teams on the ground, "it is critical that this continues", UN Humanitarian co-ordinator Yacoub el Hillo told the BBC.
He added that after "spending a day in the Old City under fire I came out and I said it was a day in hell".
"But the people living inside the Old City go through this every day. So, do we do something about it or do we wait? No, we do!"
The evacuation on Tuesday was delayed by a day because of what UN and Syrian officials said were logistical reasons.
"The evacuation of civilians and delivery of food aid will continue tomorrow morning," Talal Barazi, the governor of Homs, told the AFP news agency.
A truce agreed until Wednesday night could be extended if necessary, he added.
'Weeding out terrorists''Weeding out terrorists'
On Tuesday, the UN human rights office said it was "deeply concerned" that boys and men had been seized as they left the besieged area earlier. Government troops have besieged the Old City of Homs for 18 months.
"It is essential that they do not come to any harm," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN commissioner for Human Rights. Evacuations over the weekend were facilitated by a three-day truce, which was extended until Wednesday.
"We will continue to press for their proper treatment according to the international humanitarian and human rights law." But the operation was delayed on Tuesday because of what UN and Syrian officials said were logistical reasons.
Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said detainees were being held at an abandoned school. Homs governor Talal Barazi said the temporary truce could be extended further if necessary.
"We are monitoring the situation. We are definitely taking account of the number there and who is there," she said. UN agencies have expressed concern over the fate of dozens of men who were taken in by Syrian security personnel after they fled Homs.
Mr Barazi, governor of Homs, said 111 men had been questioned and released, while 190 others were still being held. UN rights spokesman Rupert Colville said it was "essential that they do not come to any harm".
The detainees were being held at an abandoned school, the UN said.
Mr Barazi said 111 men had been questioned and released, while 190 others were still being held.
"I just want to say I hope that that the bigger percentage will all be released," he told the BBC.
"They are living in a shelter in very good conditions. They have all the services, health, medical services and they are all secure."
The Syrian authorities said the screening was necessary to weed out "terrorists".The Syrian authorities said the screening was necessary to weed out "terrorists".
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. In Geneva, Syrian government and opposition negotiators met face-to-face on Tuesday.
'Laborious' talks But UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said there had not been very much progress so far.
Face-to-face negotiations between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva were adjourned on Tuesday. "The beginning of this week is as laborious as it was in the first week," he told a news conference in Geneva.
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 UN headquarters in New York.
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 Assad's government has ruled out any transfer of power.President Assad's government has ruled out any transfer of power.
Syria's civil conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes. At the UN in New York, Western nations are trying to frame a Security Council resolution that would call on all sides to allow aid workers access in Syria.
But Russia on Wednesday renewed its opposition to the proposed text, saying it was a pretext for a military action.
Moscow is apparently preparing its own draft resolution calling for an end to terrorism in Syria.
The civil conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes.