The head of the U.N. observers' mission in Syria has demanded warring parties allow the evacuation of endangered women, children, elderly and sick from the besieged city of Homs and other combat zones.

Maj. Gen. Robert Mood said that neither Syrian troops nor rebels were willing to hold their fire to allow them to leave, particularly from Homs. He said U.N. efforts to evacuate civilians from Homs had so far failed.