27/01/2014 10:30
Syria talks: Civilians to be allowed out of Homs old city
Syria will allow women and children to leave the besieged area of Homs "from now," the UN mediator at the Geneva peace talks has told reporters, the BBC reported.
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said women and children were free to leave. He alleged armed groups were preventing them from leaving.
Mr Brahimi said that the opposition had agreed to give the government lists of detainees held by armed groups.
He said it was "too early" to assess the prospects of a comprehensive deal.
He admitted the talks were proceeding slowly but said that on Monday he "expected the two parties to make some general statement about the way forward."
Mr Brahimi said he hoped a humanitarian convoy from the UN and the Red Cross would be able to go to Homs on Monday.
Hundreds of people are reportedly trapped in besieged parts of the city, including some who are very ill.
If all goes well, the agreement on Homs would be the first concrete outcome of the peace process, the BBC's Bridget Kendall reports from Geneva.