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Syria conflict: UN sends more aid into Homs Syria conflict: Aid and evacuations continue in Homs
(about 1 hour later)
More aid has been sent into the besieged rebel-held Old City of Homs by the UN after hours of talks aimed at saving a truce between warring parties.More aid has been sent into the besieged rebel-held Old City of Homs by the UN after hours of talks aimed at saving a truce between warring parties.
UN vehicles towed trailers of food into the city, and aid agencies prepared buses to transport fleeing civilians. Later, evacuations also restarted - with Homs Governor Talal Barazi telling news agency AFP more than 200 civilians had left.
More civilians are set to join the hundreds evacuated out of the Old City since the truce was agreed last Friday. They will join the hundreds who have left since the truce was agreed on Friday, but hundreds more remain.
The current ceasefire deal is due to end late on Wednesday, but the regime has said it will allow an extension. The regime has said it will allow an extension to the current ceasefire.
The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Homs, says every precaution is being taken with the latest food delivery. It is due to end late on Wednesday.
Earlier, UN vehicles towed trailers of food into the city - dozens of bags of flour, rice, vegetable oil, sugar, salt and other commodities.
The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Homs, says every precaution was being taken with the latest delivery.
Red Crescent vehicles were attacked on their way to the Old City at the weekend, and their workers were briefly trapped.Red Crescent vehicles were attacked on their way to the Old City at the weekend, and their workers were briefly trapped.
In other developments:In other developments:
'Weeding out terrorists''Weeding out terrorists'
Government troops have besieged 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 then extended until Wednesday. Evacuations over the weekend were facilitated by a three-day truce, which was then extended until Wednesday, though the relief operation was halted by a day on Tuesday due to logistical reasons.
But the operation was suspended on Tuesday because of what UN and Syrian officials said were logistical reasons. More than 1,000 civilians are believed to remain. Mr Barazi told AFP a further 217 civilians had been taken out of Homs in Wednesday's "smooth" operation.
Homs governor Talal Barazi said the temporary truce could be extended further if necessary. Mr Barazi has said the temporary truce could be extended further if necessary. Hundreds of civilians are believed to remain inside besieged parts of 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. But 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.
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".
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 again on Wednesday.In Geneva, Syrian government and opposition negotiators met face-to-face again on Wednesday.
But earlier UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said there had not been much progress. But earlier UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi lamented a lack of progress.
He has brought forward a meeting with Russian and US officials by one day to Thursday in an apparent attempt to get them to apply pressure to the opposed Syrian sides.He has brought forward a meeting with Russian and US officials by one day to Thursday in an apparent attempt to get them to apply pressure to the opposed Syrian sides.
The first round of talks ended last month with no firm agreements and both sides trading insults.The first round of talks ended last month with no firm agreements and both sides trading insults.
Meanwhile, the bloodshed continues inside Syria, with the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights saying Syrians are being killed at a faster rate than ever.
The British-based group said at least 4,959 people had died in the three-week period since 22 January, when the first round of Swiss talks began.
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.
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.