Syrian government pressed to allow aid trucks

The Syrian government came under pressure on Jan. 27 to allow aid trucks into the besieged rebel city of Homs as negotiators sought to keep peace talks on track by focusing on humanitarian gestures. 

The government said women and children could leave Homs and government and opposition delegates also spoke of releasing prisoners.

The U.N. mediator said he hoped talks, which continue on Jan. 27 in Geneva, could move on to broaching the central issue that divides the two sides after three years of civil war – Syria’s political future and that of President Bashar al-Assad.