The Syrian government says it has reached a deal with the United Nations to allow women, children, the elderly, and the wounded to leave the besieged city of Homs, as well as allow an aid convoy to go in.  The UN praised the move.

“The United Nations and humanitarian partners had pre-positioned food, medical and other basic supplies on the outskirts of Homs ready for immediate delivery as soon as the green light was given by the parties for safe passage,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces have used siege tactics to surround and try to starve out rebels holding strategic areas.  The government has kept the pressure on Homs since June 2012.

The US is questioning the Syrian government's sincerity.

“Given that the regime, up to this point, has described just about anybody living in opposition territory as a terrorist – and has attacked them as such – you know, we have reason on the basis of history to be very skeptical,” said US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power in New York.