UN-mediated talks between the Syrian government and opposition delegations have resumed in Geneva, Switzerland, with humanitarian issues on the agenda.

UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said the second day of talks on Sunday would focus on the release of thousands of prisoners, including women, children and the elderly from Syrian prisons.

Brahimi told reporters Saturday that the opposing sides met twice in the same room at the United Nations office in Geneva. He said the two groups discussed the dire humanitarian situation in Homs and hoped a solution could be reached soon to allow a humanitarian convoy to reach Homs' Old City as soon as Monday.

Homs is one of Syria's largest cities and has been pounded by government assaults to reclaim control from rebel forces.

Opposition representative Louay Safi told reporters Saturday's talks were necessary to save those dying of malnutrition inside the government's "water-tight" blockade of Homs. He referred to the talks as "preparatory discussions leading to the negotiations," which he expects will start Monday.

Safi repeated that the opposition's main purpose of negotiating is to "transition from the rule of dictatorship to democracy."

Officials say the two sides faced each other for about 30 minutes Saturday morning and about two hours in the afternoon.

US State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez said the opposition demonstrated "a seriousness of purpose" in Geneva and went to the meeting "with the intention to engage constructively."

Another US official said as innocent civilians die in Syria, the regime continues to play games.

The opposition has said it will not negotiate directly with the Syrian government unless it agrees to discuss the departure of President Bashar al-Assad from office. Damascus has refused, accusing the rebels of supporting terrorism.

The official goal of the so-called Geneva 2 talks is to form a Syrian transition government, though analysts say the chances of achieving this goal are slim.

Brahimi has said the larger issues would be set aside and talks would deal with modest issues that could be built upon.

The Syrian conflict began in March 2011 when peaceful protests spiralled into a civil war that the UN says has killed well over 100,000 people and forced nearly 9 million from their homes. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Economy and Finance