Aid agencies are scrambling to evacuate hundreds of civilians from the besieged Syrian city of Homs before the temporary ceasefire expires later today.

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.

More than 1,100 of an estimated 2,500 people have so far fled the city since Friday under a truce.

Concern is also growing about the safety of dozens of men and boys held by the authorities for screening after leaving Homs.

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.

Russia has refused to back it calling it one sided.

Meanwhile in Geneva there’s been no progress to speak of in the second round of peace talks.