Syria talks: Mediator apologises for lack of progress

The UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi: "It's not good for Syria that we come back for another round and fall in the same traps"
The UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has apologised to the Syrian people after peace talks in Geneva ended without making progress.

He had held final discussions with both sides in Geneva in a last-ditch bid to break the stalemate between the Syrian government and opposition.

Mr Brahimi said a key sticking point was the government's refusal to talk about a transitional governing body.

No date has been set for a third round of talks.

The UK and France have blamed President Assad's government for the failure of the talks.

The conflict in Syria has claimed more than 100,000 lives since March 2011.

Some 9.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

Suspicions raised

The discussions on Saturday morning lasted just 27 minutes, after which Mr Brahimi emerged looking tired to address reporters, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva.

Mr Brahimi apologised to the Syrian people, admitting that the talks "had not come out with very much".

Although the two sides had agreed on an agenda for the next - third - round, Mr Brahimi said the government had rejected his suggestion to begin it by spending a day focusing on combating violence and terrorism, and a second day discussing a transitional government.

Mr Brahimi said the government's stance "raises the suspicion of the opposition that the government doesn't want to discuss [a transitional government] at all".

He said he hoped that when the government spoke of implementing the 2012 Geneva Communique on bringing about a political settlement "they do mean a transitional governing body, exercising full executive power, will be the main objective".

But the government's chief negotiator, Bashar al-Jaafari, stressed that "terrorism" - rebel violence - must be dealt with fully first.

"Once you have an agenda you should respect the agenda fully without any interpretation or misinterpretation... we said that we cannot move from... item one to item two or item three or item four without fully considering this item and concluding by a common vision of this item by the two sides, something that the other side objected to."

Opposition spokesman Louay Safi again insisted on discussion of a transitional government that does not include President Bashar al-Assad - something the government rejects.

"A third round without talking about transition would be a waste of time," Mr Safi said.

Lakhdar Brahimi (centre) was unable to produce progress in the talks involving the opposition's Louay Safi (l) and for the Syrian government, Bashar al-Jaafari (r)
Mr Brahimi said both sides needed "to go back to their base" for consultations and to think about whether they wanted the process to continue or not.

In further reaction to the breakdown of the talks, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague laid the blame squarely at the door of the Syrian government but said the Geneva process must continue.

"This cannot be the end of the road. With the war in Syria causing more death and destruction every day, we owe it to the people of Syria to do all we can to make progress towards a political solution."

Mr Hague said Britain would also continue to push for a UN Security Council resolution to address the "appalling humanitarian suffering in Syria".

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the Syrian regime had "blocked any progress on establishing a transition government and stepped up violence and acts of terror against the civilian population."

Applying pressure

The agreement to allow aid into Homs was a rare success from the talks
So far, the only agreement in the latest negotiations was to allow civilians to leave the besieged city of Homs and aid to enter.

Correspondents say at least 5,000 people are believed to have died since the first round of the Geneva talks began on 22 January.

US President Barack Obama said on Friday that he was considering ways of putting more pressure on President Assad, though he did not expect any resolution in the short term.

Speaking in California, where he was meeting Jordan's King Abdullah, he said: "There will be some intermediate steps that we can take applying more pressure to the Assad regime and we are going to be continuing to work with all the parties concerned to try to move forward on a diplomatic solution."

Mr Obama did not disclose what steps he has under consideration.
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UK storms: Mother killed by falling masonry named

Julie Sillitoe died when the car she was driving was hit by falling masonry
A mother-of-three who died when falling masonry hit her taxi has been named.

Julie Sillitoe, 49, was one of two people killed on Friday as strong winds and heavy rain southern England, adding to problems already caused by widespread storms and flooding.

An 85-year-old man died after a freak wave hit a British cruise ship in the English Channel.

More than 65,000 homes are without power and severe weather warnings are in place for much of the UK.

Julie Sillitoe died in central London after the car she was in was crushed by falling masonry, as Chris Buckler reports
Prime Minister David Cameron chaired the government's emergency committee, Cobra, on Saturday evening to discuss the forecast and the likely impact over the days ahead.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Cameron said: "I was reassured that all the agencies involved - thousands of people locally and nationally - have made huge efforts over last few days to protect more homes and businesses, with over 3,000 of our troops deployed on task tonight and many hundreds more on standby".

He earlier said his "heart goes out to anyone who's been flooded".

Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "My thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the people killed in the storms last night."

Part of a cliff has collapsed at West Bay in Dorset

The Army was called in try to move a fallen tree blocking a road in Egham, Surrey

Windows on both the ground and first floors were smashed by flying shingle at the Marine Restaurant in Milford on Sea

An aqua dam is employed to hold back flood water in Chertsey, Surrey
Winds of up to 83mph (130km/h) - combined with ongoing problems due to flooding - have also caused major disruption to roads and railways.

Portland Coastguard said there had been a "large" cliff fall at West Bay, Dorset.

Two people initially reported missing in the area have now been accounted for.

Yellow "be aware" weather warnings of icy driving conditions will be in effect from 20:00 GMT to 10:00 on Sunday for most of the UK. Across the south of England, Wales and the Midlands there are also warnings of heavy rain.

BBC weather presenter Louise Lear said conditions would improve through the course of Saturday with winds easing and some sunshine developing, although temperatures would drop significantly overnight.

Sunday is expected to be a dry day for most areas and while rain will return during the night into Monday, it is likely to be much less intense than in recent weeks, she added.

The Environment Agency has 16 severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in place, as well more than 150 flood warnings and more that 260 flood alerts in England and Wales.

Several passengers were injured when water crashed through a window of the cruise ship, MS Marco Polo, as it headed for its home port of Tilbury in Essex.

A man aged 85 and a woman in her 70s were airlifted off the ship, but the man later died.
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5 things to watch at the Winter Games

Seven gold medals will be at stake Saturday in Sochi, Russia, giving dozens of Olympic athletes another shot at history.

But the day's most highly anticipated event may be a preliminary round men's hockey game. The U.S.-Russia contest may have no bearing on the final standings, yet it's sure to generate a lot of passion and interest in those countries and beyond.

Russia vs. U.S. highlights men's hockey slate

It's been a long time since Lake Placid.

That New York community will forever be associated not just with the 1980 Winter Olympics, but its signature moment: The underdog American men's hockey team besting their Cold War rivals from the Soviet Union en route to a gold medal.

Sportscaster Al Michaels wasn't the only person who considered that win a miracle. That description probably wouldn't be apt if the 2014 incarnation of the American team beats the Russians (alas, the closest you can get to the Soviets nowadays) on Saturday in Sochi.

Still, it will be a big deal.

The U.S. team is fresh off a 7-1 trashing of Slovakia, a win that suggested that the Americans are a legitimate contender to win their first gold in this competition since Lake Placid. The Russians, paced by Alexander Ovechkin, beat Slovenia by a 5-2 score.

The continued icy relations between Russia and the United States ratchet up the tensions a bit, and history counts for something, too. Russia's coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov was on the 1980 Soviet team, and that squad's goalie, Vladislav Tretiak, now heads the Russian Hockey Federation.

This isn't the only preliminary round match-up in men's hockey Saturday: Slovakia and Slovenia, Sweden and Latvia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic also face off on the men's side.
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Billie Jean King to attend Olympics closing

Tennis legend and openly gay athlete Billie Jean King has been named as part of the presidential delegation to the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia,

King, a 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian honor, was initially named as part of the opening ceremony delegation but had to pull out because her mother was ill.

Russia has faced widespread criticism over its position on gay rights since passing an anti-gay propaganda law last year, which bans anyone from speaking positively about homosexuality in the hearing of children.

In a commentary for CNN in January, King said the decision to include openly gay men and women in the presidential delegation to Sochi was perhaps a statement by the United States.

"While I am not planning to protest or demonstrate, I am concerned with the treatment of the LGBT community in Russia and throughout the world. I want the LGBT community living in Russia to know they are not alone and I hope others realize this is not only a gay rights issue, but a global concern for human rights and equality," she wrote.

"As I said when I was named to the U.S. delegation, I hope these Olympics will be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people."

The closing ceremony takes place on February 23.

President Barack Obama also named Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul to the delegation, as well as former gold medal Olympians Bonnie Blair and Eric Heider, a White House statement said.

The delegates will watch some events and meet U.S. athletes as well as attend the final ceremony.
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Hockey: US tops Russia in OT thriller

U.S. beats Russia in Olympic hockey

In a heart-pounding finish, Team USA punched a victory Saturday against Russia, in what is one of the hockey world's greatest rivalries.


Tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, the game went into a shootout, where American T.J. Oshie scored four times on six tries to ensure a U.S. victory.

The finish was dramatic and the victory clutch, but it was also controversial. The Russians scored what appeared to be a game-winning goal in the third period, but it was disallowed because the net had moved from where it was supposed to be.

The U.S.-Russia match-up was one of the most anticipated matches at the Sochi winter games. Both hockey giants stepped onto the ice with 1-0 records in the tournament and are contenders for the gold.

While the game had a thrilling conclusion, the loss does not push Russia out of contention.

The shootout performance by Oshie, who plays professionally for the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues, made it look like he had nerves of steel, but that's not the whole story.

"My hands are a little tingling, my feet are tingling," Oshie said after the game. "It was pretty nerve-racking out there. We knew it would take 65 minutes and then some [to win]."

When the game was on the line, the United States put the match in his hands.

"I did [feel pressure] a little bit, but then the puck hits your stick and you start skating," he said. "It's just you and the goalie. I was fortunate enough to keep him guessing."

The Russian goalie who he kept guessing was Sergei Bobrovski, who also plays in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Russian skier breaks back during training

Russian freestyle skier Maria Komissarova suffered a serious injury while training at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Russian Olympic Committee said.


The skier fractured a vertebrae and displaced her spine, the committee said.

The decision was made to operate on her immediately, the committee said.

The 23-year-old was in "unbearable" pain when she was rushed to the hospital, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency said.

Komissarova was training to compete in the ski-cross competition.

According to RIA Novosti, Komissarova's best finish was a second place at a World Cup in 2012, but she was not expected to be a medal contender in Sochi.

Komissarova injured her leg last year, requiring surgery and keeping her off the slopes for almost six months.
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Slim progress made as Syria peace talks close

How can U.S. help end Syria's civil war?

U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said Saturday that a second round of talks in Geneva aimed at ending the crisis in Syria came to an end with little progress made.


The opposition and the government have agreed to an agenda for a third round of talks, but they have not agreed on how to tackle it, he said.

Brahimi apologized to the Syrian people, saying he was "very, very sorry" that despite two rounds of talks "we haven't done very much."

The key sticking point is that the Syrian government wants to talk about tackling terrorism, while the opposition wants to discuss forming a transitional governing body.

Brahimi said he suggested starting the next round of talks with one day of discussion on each issue, but the government had thrown a wrench in the works.

"Unfortunately the government has refused, which raises the suspicion of the opposition that in fact the government doesn't want to discuss the (transitional governing body) at all," he said.

Brahimi said such intransigence was "not good for the process," or for Syria.

Negotiators from both sides should go back to their leaders and reflect on a way forward, he said. "Do they want this process to take place or not?"

Louay Safi, of the opposition Syrian National Coalition, said, "We want to progress on the two sides. We want to be assured that the regime is really wanting a political solution, not delay tactics, and we didn't get that, for reasons that were described by Mr. Brahimi.

"Our heart is in pain, our delegation is in pain, that as we speak here searching for a political solution the regime has chosen to bombard towns and cities killing civilians."
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