Peace talks between the Syrian government and self-proclaimed opposition rattled on with no apparent breakthrough in sight.

UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi desperately tried to keep both sides at the table and was rewarded with representatives of President Bashar al-Assad's government and the Syrian National Coalition hurling accusations at each other before the world's media.

Talks ended early afternoon with no side reporting any progress and only one more day of discussions planned today.

West-backed opposition spokesman Louay Safi said his delegation had presented evidence about "the massacres committed by the regime throughout the region."

He said the only way to solve the crisis was to form a transitional governing body.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mikdad said the government had focused on combating terrorism, which the opposition refused to discuss.

"They claim to be fighting terrorism while they are conniving with terrorism to kill the Syrian people," he said.

The three-year conflict has left more than 130,000 dead and driven millions from their homes.

The UN and Arab League have fought tirelessly to push both sides towards a political solution.

However the West-mandated opposition attending the Geneva talks has little support within Syria and consequently it is unlikely that if an agreement was thrashed out it would resolve the country's crisis.