Aid agencies are scrambling to evacuate hundreds of civilians from the besieged Syrian city of Homs before the temporary ceasefire expires later today.<br /><br />Appeals have gone out to both sides to extend the pause in fighting as the operation to bring the young and elderly out had to be suspended on Tuesday.<br /><br />More than 1,100 of an estimated 2,500 people have so far fled the city since Friday under a truce.<br /><br />Concern is also growing about the safety of dozens of men and boys held by the authorities for screening after leaving Homs.<br /><br />On the diplomatic front at the United Nations the Security Council has failed to agree on a draft resolution to demand humanitarian aid access to besieged areas across Syria.<br /><br />Russia has refused to back it calling it one sided.<br /><br />Meanwhile in Geneva there’s been no progress to speak of in the second round of peace talks.
