GENEVA: Syrian peace talks in Geneva were deadlocked on Monday over the explosive issue of transferring power from President Bashar al-Assad's regime, delegates from the warring sides said.

But both parties said they were not planning to walk away from the talks, even though a session on Monday had broken up with no progress after the regime set out a statement of principles.

The opposition rejected the regime's statement, saying talks needed to focus on a political transition, and UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi ended the session.

“The discussions were not constructive today because of the regime's strategy to deflect... (and) change the subject by talking of terrorism,” Rima Fleihan, a member of the opposition National Coalition's delegation, told reporters.

Regime delegation member Buthaina Shaaban said the opposition had rejected discussion of anything other than the creation of a transitional government.

She said the government had presented a statement of “political principles which we thought no two Syrian persons should disagree with” — including protecting the country's sovereignty, preserving state institutions and stopping the threat from “terrorist” groups.

“We were surprised that this basic paper was rejected by the other side, who either does not have the capacity to acknowledge Syria and its territorial integrity, or they don't care about what's happening to the Syrian people,” Shaaban said. Asked if they were planning to leave the talks, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad said: “Never! We shall not leave the table.” Fleihan also said there were no plans for the opposition to leave.

Monday marked the third day of UN-sponsored talks between the two sides in Geneva and the first dealing with political issues.

The two sides have been brought together in the biggest diplomatic push yet to end a civil war that has left more than 130,000 dead and forced millions from their homes.

The opposition says Assad must leave power and a transitional government be formed based on an agreement reached during a first peace conference in Geneva in 2012.

The regime says Assad's role is not up for debate at this conference — dubbed Geneva II — and denies that the initial Geneva deal requires him to go.

In Damascus, official Syrian media made it clear that Assad's continued leadership remained a red line that negotiators would not cross.

“Those who are deluding themselves must understand that the government delegation to Geneva II did not go to this conference to hand power to those who have conspired against the people over the last three years,” the Tishreen state newspaper said.“They are in Geneva to speak in the name of the Syrian people who have been the target of terrorism by armed groups linked to Al Qaeda,” it said.

The regime accuses the opposition and its international backers of promoting “terrorism” in the country, pointing to militant Islamist rebel groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Al-Nusra Front.

NO CONCRETE STEP' ON HOMS RELIEF: In the first tangible promise to emerge from the talks, Brahimi said Sunday the regime had agreed to allow women and children safe passage from besieged rebel-held areas of the city of Homs. The regime's promise raised some hopes of humanitarian relief, but was greeted by scepticism on the ground.

Activists in rebel areas of Homs said residents had “no trust” in the regime and first wanted aid supplies and guarantees that those leaving would not be arrested. —AFP