The Syrian government
says a deal has been reached to allow what it terms "innocent civilians"
to leave besieged areas of the city of Homs.
Women, children, the
elderly and the wounded would be allowed to leave, according to an
agreement between the city's governor and the UN, the foreign ministry
said.
Parts of Homs Old City have been under army siege since June 2012.
The United Nations said discussions on the issue were continuing.
The Syrian Red Crescent
told the BBC that the hope was for an evacuation to take place on
Friday, and for supplies to be taken in to remaining civilians the
following day.
Peace talks in Geneva
last month between the Syrian government and the opposition failed to
reach a deal on a potential evacuation.
'Rancour'
Homs has seen some of the most intense fighting of the three-year civil war and much of the city lies in ruins.
Living conditions for those trapped in the besieged zone are believed to be dire.
Food is scarce and there is little access to medical supplies.
The BBC's Jim Muir, in
Beirut, says that it has taken many days of detailed negotiations on the
ground for this deal to be reached.
There is little trust and much rancour between the two sides, he adds.
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