Syrian Peace Talks Fall Short of Modest Goal as First Round Ends

The failure of the first round of Syrian peace talks to achieve even their most modest goal -- allowing humanitarian access to the city of Homs -- threatens to derail the effort to end the country’s civil war.

The government of President Bashar al-Assad has refused to let an aid convoy enter blockaded areas of Homs, undercutting United Nations mediator Lakhdar Brahimi’s effort to build confidence in the “Geneva II” talks by reaching consensus on matters less contentious than forming a transitional government that might not include Assad.