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Syria crisis: Last UN try to break Geneva deadlock | Syria crisis: Last UN try to break Geneva deadlock |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The UN special envoy for Syria will try to break the stalemate between the Syrian government and the opposition at a final session of talks in Geneva. | The UN special envoy for Syria will try to break the stalemate between the Syrian government and the opposition at a final session of talks in Geneva. |
Lakhdar Brahimi will mediate a last face-to-face meeting with both sides on Saturday morning. | Lakhdar Brahimi will mediate a last face-to-face meeting with both sides on Saturday morning. |
Negotiations reached an impasse as the two delegations traded accusations, with Syrian officials calling the rebels' demands "unrealistic". | Negotiations reached an impasse as the two delegations traded accusations, with Syrian officials calling the rebels' demands "unrealistic". |
The conflict in Syria has claimed more than 100,000 lives since March 2011. | The conflict in Syria has claimed more than 100,000 lives since March 2011. |
Some 9.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes. | Some 9.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes. |
'Unblock the situation' | 'Unblock the situation' |
The final talks are due to begin at 11:00 (10:00 GMT). | The final talks are due to begin at 11:00 (10:00 GMT). |
Mr Brahimi earlier said US and Russian officials had assured him they would try to "unblock the situation". | Mr Brahimi earlier said US and Russian officials had assured him they would try to "unblock the situation". |
The best outcome the UN can hope for is a commitment to come back to Geneva for further negotiations, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva reports. | The best outcome the UN can hope for is a commitment to come back to Geneva for further negotiations, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva reports. |
Many people inside Syria may view such a commitment as meaningless after two rounds of talks achieved little, our correspondent says. | |
So far, the only agreement in the latest negotiations was to allow civilians to leave and aid to enter the besieged city of Homs. | So far, the only agreement in the latest negotiations was to allow civilians to leave and aid to enter the besieged city of Homs. |
Otherwise the talks, which started six days ago, have failed to narrow the gap between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the opposition. | Otherwise the talks, which started six days ago, have failed to narrow the gap between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the opposition. |
Syria insists on the need to fight what it calls "terrorists", while the rebel delegation stresses the need for a transitional administration to run the country until elections. | Syria insists on the need to fight what it calls "terrorists", while the rebel delegation stresses the need for a transitional administration to run the country until elections. |
Syrian officials have said there is no question of replacing President Bashar al-Assad. | Syrian officials have said there is no question of replacing President Bashar al-Assad. |
Opposition spokesman Louay Safi said the government team had failed to show "any responsiveness". | Opposition spokesman Louay Safi said the government team had failed to show "any responsiveness". |
Correspondents say at least 5,000 people are believed to have died since the first round of the Geneva talks began on 22 January. | Correspondents say at least 5,000 people are believed to have died since the first round of the Geneva talks began on 22 January. |
Earlier, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos urged the UN Security Council to act immediately to ensure more humanitarian access in Syria. | Earlier, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos urged the UN Security Council to act immediately to ensure more humanitarian access in Syria. |
The Security Council has been deadlocked over aid deliveries in Syria, where millions have been forced to flee their homes. | The Security Council has been deadlocked over aid deliveries in Syria, where millions have been forced to flee their homes. |