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Syria conflict: UN hopes to resume Homs evacuation Syria conflict: UN restarts aid mission in Homs
(about 2 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. The UN has restarted its aid mission in the besieged rebel-held Old City of Homs after hours of talks aimed at saving a truce between warring parties.
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". UN vehicles towed trailers of food into the city, and aid agencies prepared buses to transport fleeing civilians.
Hundreds of civilians remain trapped in the Old City - a hub of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. The current ceasefire deal is due to end late on Wednesday, but the regime has said it will allow an extension.
More than 1,100 people have fled the city since Friday under a truce. Hundreds were evacuated from the Old City after a truce was agreed last Friday, but more than 1,000 remain.
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. The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Homs, says every precaution is being taken with the latest food delivery.
But she says the longer the operation goes on, the more it seems to expose the divides in Syria. Red Crescent vehicles were attacked on their way to the Old City at the weekend, and their workers were briefly trapped.
Meanwhile, little progress was reported on the second day of talks on Tuesday between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva, Switzerland. In other developments:
'Weeding out terrorists''Weeding out terrorists'
Government troops have besieged the Old City of Homs for 18 months. Government troops have besieged Homs for 18 months.
Evacuations over the weekend were facilitated by a three-day truce, which was extended until Wednesday. Evacuations over the weekend were facilitated by a three-day truce, which was then extended until Wednesday.
But the operation was delayed on Tuesday because of what UN and Syrian officials said were logistical reasons. But the operation was suspended on Tuesday because of what UN and Syrian officials said were logistical reasons.
Homs governor Talal Barazi said the temporary truce could be extended further if necessary.Homs governor Talal Barazi said the temporary truce could be extended further if necessary.
UN agencies have expressed concern over the fate of dozens of men who were taken in by Syrian security personnel after they fled Homs. The UN's local aid chief Yacoub El Hillo, who is overseeing the operation, told the BBC it was "crucial" that the evacuations continued.
Convoys came under fire at the weekend, and Mr Hillo described his visit to Homs as like a "day in hell".
UN agencies have also expressed concern over the fate of dozens of men who were taken in by Syrian security personnel after they fled Homs.
UN rights spokesman Rupert Colville said it was "essential that they do not come to any harm".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.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.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. "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.""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".
In Geneva, Syrian government and opposition negotiators met face-to-face on Tuesday.In Geneva, Syrian government and opposition negotiators met face-to-face on Tuesday.
But UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said there had not been very much progress so far.But UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said there had not been very much progress so far.
"The beginning of this week is as laborious as it was in the first week," he told a news conference in Geneva."The beginning of this week is as laborious as it was in the first week," he told a news conference in Geneva.
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 Bashar al-Assad's government has ruled out any transfer of power.
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.The civil conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes.