Humanitarian Workers Provide Food And Medical Supplies

Aid teams have evacuated more than 500 civilians, including children and the elderly, from the besieged Syrian rebel centre of Homs.

A day after humanitarian workers came under mortar fire there, state TV said supplies were also taken in to the city, which has been under siege for 18 months during the civil war.

Homs governor Talal al Barazi told Al Mayadeen television that 65 women, children and elderly men were able to leave devastated neighbourhoods in the centre.

Troops loyal to President Assad and rebel fighters have traded accusations over attacks on Saturday which targeted a joint UN and Syrian Red Crescent team.

The convoy was hit by mortars as relief workers handed over food and medical supplies. The Red Crescent said one of its drivers was wounded.

Video footage released by activists showed the joint team, led by UN humanitarian coordinator Yacoub el Hillo, taking refuge in a basement while explosions rocked the streets above them.

On Friday, the first of the planned three-day humanitarian operation in Homs, 83 women, children and elderly men were evacuated from the ruins of central Homs, significantly fewer than the 200 which the city governor had predicted.

Many showed signs of malnutrition, the UN said.

The civil war in Syria has killed 130,000 people and driven millions from their homes.

On Monday, Geneva peace talks will resume, where international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has been pushing for an agreement on aid deliveries and prisoner releases.

Mr Assad's government has rejected out of hand any surrender of power in Geneva, and on the ground his forces have made gains while rival rebel forces battle each other in the north and east of the country.

Eleven people were killed in the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday when helicopters dropped barrel bombs on rebel areas.