Pro-Assad demonstrators carry a caricature during a sit-in in front of the United Nations headquarters in Damascus
Pro-Assad demonstrators carry a caricature during a sit-in in front of the United Nations headquarters in Damascus, January 9, 2014. They were protesting against what they said is the UN inaction regarding the rebel fighters 'crimes' in the Damascus suburb of Adra. REUTERS/Kinda Makieh (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Syria opposition holds first "unified" meet ahead of peace talks
Assad faces little pressure to offer concessions in the talks as his forces continue to gain ground
U.N. strike stokes Palestinian refugee protests
Palestinian refugees' protest continue amid UN employees demands for better wages
Damaged buildings line a deserted street in the besieged area of Homs
Damaged buildings line a deserted street in the besieged area of Homs January 9, 2014. REUTERS/Thaer Al Khalidiya (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Smoke rises from a building after it was hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Assad at the besieged area of Homs
Smoke rises from a building after it was hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at the besieged area of Homs January 9, 2014. REUTERS/Thaer Al Khalidiya (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Smoke rises from a burning building which caught fire after it was hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at the besieged area of Homs
Smoke rises from a burning building which caught fire after it was hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at the besieged area of Homs January 9, 2014. REUTERS/Thaer Al Khalidiya (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Smoke rises from a building after it was hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at the besieged area of Homs
Smoke rises from a building after it was hit by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at the besieged area of Homs January 9, 2014. REUTERS/Thaer Al Khalidiya (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Syrian car bomb kills at least 18, dozens wounded -monitoring group
SYRIA-CRISIS/BOMB (URGENT):Syrian car bomb kills at least 18, dozens wounded -monitoring group
Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians walk along a damaged street filled with garbage at the besieged area of Homs
Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians walk along a damaged street filled with garbage at the besieged area of Homs January 8, 2014. Picture taken January 8, 2014. REUTERS/Thaer Al Khalidiya (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians walk along a damaged street filled with garbage at the besieged area of Homs
Free Syrian Army fighters and civilians walk along a damaged street filled with garbage at the besieged area of Homs January 8, 2014. Picture taken January 8, 2014. REUTERS/Thaer Al Khalidiya (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)