Syria antagonists 'haven't achieved much' in talks

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. mediator trying to broker peace after three years of civil war in Syria says "we haven't achieved much" after two brief face-to-face encounters between the government and the opposition.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the mediator, said the painstakingly choreographed talks would continue Sunday on opening up access to humanitarian aid — the one topic the two sides could agree to discuss.

"The situation is very difficult and very, very complicated, and we are moving not in steps, but half-steps," Brahimi said after a total of three hours acting as a buffer between the two sides.

The veteran diplomat is hoping to broker an end to the civil war that has killed more than 130,000 people and devastated Syria.