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Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad says the government has decided to take part in a second round of peace talks in Geneva, set to begin next week.



The Syrian opposition has also said it will take part in the second round of talks. The first was adjourned with no signs of progress on Jan. 31.


State TV quoted Mekdad as saying on Friday that the government delegation will head to the talks scheduled to resume on Monday in Geneva.


The negotiations aim to broker a political solution to Syria's civil war. The conflict has killed more than 130,000 people, forced more than 2.3 million to seek refuge abroad, and sent sectarian tensions soaring across the region.


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The siege of the old city of Homs has gone on for more than a year, and activists say 2,500 are trapped inside the area, struggling with hunger and malnourishment.



About 200 people were expected to leave a besieged area of the Syrian city of Homs on Friday in the first stage of a humanitarian deal to evacuate civilians and allow aid to be delivered, Reuters reported, citing a regional official.


Speaking to Syrian state television, Homs governor Talal al-Barazi said the atmosphere was "positive" ahead of the operation which is expected to begin around midday and allow women, children and elderly to leave the besieged old city.


The United Nations welcomed reports of the agreement on Thursday, although Washington questioned the sincerity of the government's intentions.


The siege of the old city has gone on for more than a year and activists say 2,500 are trapped inside the area, struggling with hunger and malnourishment.


They represent only a small fraction of besieged Syrians across the country who are in desperate need of aid.


Barazi said the first group would include children under 15-years-old, men over 55, and women. He said reception centres had been set up to receive and treat people leaving the old city, although those evacuated were free to go wherever they liked.


"We are ready today to receive any number, even it exceeds 400, but according to the United Nations yesterday the expected number is 200, or it could be lower," he said.


"We hope this first step will succeed and will continue tomorrow and after tomorrow and so on to ensure safe exit to all civilians who want to leave the old city."


"The atmosphere is positive," Barazi added.



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