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                Syria to Attend Next Round of Geneva Peace Talks

   by VOA News

   Syria has confirmed that it will attend the second round of peace talks
   in Geneva. The first round of talks, which concluded in January, saw
   little progress towards ending the country's civil war.
   Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Makdad said on state television Friday
   that Damascus would take part in the talks, set to be held on February
   10.
   At last month's talks, the government and Western-backed opposition
   found no common ground on reducing violence or improving humanitarian
   access.
   However, there were hopes that relief could come soon for the besieged,
   rebel-held city of Homs, following a reported deal to allow civilians
   to leave the area.
   The U.N. on Thursday welcomed the agreement, which would also allow
   relief workers to deliver aid for about 2,500 people.
   A U.N. spokesman told VOA the world body and its humanitarian partners
   have pre-positioned food, medicine and other supplies nearby and are
   ready to deliver aid as soon as possible.
   The old city of Homs has been cut off from humanitarian aid for more
   than a year.
   The deal, which has not been confirmed, was reported by Syria's
   state-run SANA news agency. It said the agreement covers "innocent
   civilians" -- including women, children, the elderly and injured
   people. The status of men was not immediately clear.
   More than 130,000 people have been killed and 9.5 million displaced
   since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-to-attend-next-round-of-geneva-
   peace-talks/1846369.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-to-attend-next-round-of-geneva-peace-talks/1846369.html