DHAKA: The second round of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition representatives is due to begin in Geneva on Monday.

The first round of talks ended last month with no firm agreements and with both sides trading insults, reports BBC.

However, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said then that some "common ground" had been reached.

The talks come after hundreds of people were evacuated from the besieged city of Homs under a three-day truce.

The evacuations were completed despite mortar fire and shooting, which both sides blamed on each other and that activists say killed several people and wounded several others.

The civil conflict has claimed well over 100,000 lives since it began in 2011.

The violence has also driven 9.5 million people from their homes, creating a major humanitarian crisis within Syria and for its neighbours.

At the end of the last talks on 31 January, the two warring sides appeared to be a long way away from reaching any compromise.

The government insists the talks focus on fighting "terrorism" - its description of the uprising - but the opposition says that the priority should be the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.

It has insisted that the government commit in writing to the 2012 Geneva I communique, which called for the formation of a transitional government.

Bombs fall as terrified civilians running towards UN vehicles

President Assad`s government has emphatically ruled out any transfer of power.

Correspondents say that his position has been strengthened on the ground since the last round of talks because pro-Assad forces have made territorial gains while rival rebel forces have been fighting each other in the north and east of the country.

The BBC`s Bridget Kendall, in Geneva, says that as they prepare to meet again the gap between the warring sides seems as wide as ever.

The Homs operation will doubt be discussed by the two opposing delegations, but it is hard to see how it will make them any more ready to collaborate, she adds.

BDST: 1041 HRS, FEB 10, 2014