(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
The United Nations mediator chairing Syria peace talks in Geneva says he's still hopeful of an agreement following days of deadlock.
The talks have stalled over the question of how a political transition would work with deep division over the future role of President Bahar al-Assad.
Greg Dyett reports.
Nobody is walking out, nobody is running away.
That was the assurance given by the UN Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi after he cut short a fourth day of talks aimed at negotiating an end to Syria's civil war.
After talks broke down in the morning, Mr Brahimi decided to cancel the afternoon round as both sides blamed each other for the impasse.
"They haven't been easy today, they haven't been easy these past days and they will probably not be easy in coming few days. But I'm glad you have been told by representatives of the two sides that they intend to stay and continue these discussions until Friday as originally planned. So nobody is walking out, nobody is running away."
The talks broke up after Syrian government representatives presented a document setting out a declaration of basic principles that made no mention of a political transition which is the very basis for the talks as required by the 2012 Geneva Communique.
Syrian opposition forces want the full implementation of that document which says President Assad will have no role in Syria's future.
Also at issue is a lack of progress in getting access for a United Nations humanitarian convoy to the enter parts of the city of Homs.
More than 2000 people have been trapped in the city since June 2012 without access to food and medical supplies.
At the weekend, Mr Brahimi said the Syrian government had agreed to let women and children leave besieged rebel held areas of Homs but that still hasn't happened.
"I think the government is willing to make it happen but it's not easy because there are snipers and there are all sorts of problems. The convoy of food and non-food items and medical supplies, there is no decision yet to let them in."
Rafif Jouejati is the director of an opposition group known as Free-Syria.
She told Al Jazeera the delay is an all too familar response from the Syrian government.
"It's not happened because this is very typical of the Assad regime. They publicly commit to something or they say they will do something and then their actions belie their words."
Faisal Mekdad is Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister.
This was his response when asked about the delay in granting access for the convoy.
"In this place itself the armed groups should first leave and then we are ready to provide whatever it takes for the civilians who are there."
More than 100,000 people have died and more than 9 million people have been displaced since the uprising against President Assad began in March, 2011.
Activists estimate about 100 people are being killed each day.
In Britain, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced that several hundred of what he calls the most vulnerable Syrian refugees will be settled in the UK.
"This conflict is worsening by the day and that's why we need to do more and that's why I'm pleased to announce that we'll now be working with the United Nations to identify the most vulnerable Syrian refugees particulary women, girls, children, those who've been subject to sexual violence in this conflict to provide them with refuge here in Britain from this terrible crisis in Syria."
Britain is the second largest humanitarian donor to Syria after the United States and has granted asylum to 2000 Syrians since the uprising started.
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