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January 27, 2014

Syrian Gov't Pledges Safe Passage for Homs Civilians 
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The Syrian government and opposition leaders are holding face to face
talks for the first time at the U.N.-backed peace conference in Geneva.
This weekend's sessions focused on humanitarian gestures after initially
facing potential collapse. U.N. envoy Lakdar Brahimi said the Syrian
government has agreed to let women and children leave the besieged city
of Homs, and study a list of prisoners sought for release.

Lakdar Brahimi: "Hopefully, starting tomorrow women and children will be
able to leave the old city in Homs. And I hope that the rest of the
civilians will be able to leave soon after that. The government has
asked the opposition to give them a list of the people that are in
detention in the hands of the various armed groups and the opposition
have agreed that they will try and collect the lists that have been
asked from those organizations they have authority over or contacts
with."

Homs has been under government siege for the past 18 months and hundreds
of civilians are in need of aid.

 

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