(11 Feb 2014) Delegates from the Syrian government and opposition arrived at the United Nations building in Geneva on Tuesday for face-to-face meetings on the second day of peace talks.
On Monday, meetings became bogged down in accusations over who was responsible for escalating violence in the country that has killed hundreds in recent days.
Meanwhile, a Syrian opposition figure said they have urged the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria for a definitive schedule for the talks, accusing the Syrian government of delaying the process.
"The point of Geneva process is to end the war, not to go on with delays," said Monzer Akbik, a member of the opposition delegation on Tuesday.
"We have asked Mr Lakhdar Brahimi (UN-Arab League envoy to Syria) to, for a schedule, certain schedule, time limit, for the talks, so we will not go on and on, on and on, with the regime games," he continued.
Azbik also said that delegates at the peace talks in Geneva may hold bilateral meetings with US and Russian officials on Friday.
Commenting on violence in the village of Maan, north of the central city of Hama, Akbik said no civilians were there at the weekend, contradicting reports that there were at least 25 civilian deaths in the sectarian killings.
"The village itself was evacuated from all civilians more than six months ago," he said. "All people in that battle, whether they are from Free Syrian Army or the other side, are killed in action. No civilians killed in that battle," he said.
At the ongoing talks in Geneva, expectations for an agreement between the two sides are low. A first round of talks last month achieved little beyond getting the warring sides into the same room.
The delegates disagree over the talks' agenda, with the Syrian government insisting the talks focus on halting "terrorism" while the opposition wants to discuss a political transition as a priority.
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