Syrian rebels begin evacuating Homs
Hundreds of Syrian rebels have started evacuating their last bastions in the central city of Homs under a ceasefire struck last week with government forces, activists said.
Smoke billows from parts of old #Homs this morning as rebels evacuate old city. pic.twitter.com/dmUcdoVI0T
— Hala Jaber (@HalaJaber) May 7, 2014
Dozens of rebels boarded five buses that arrived at the police command on the edge of the rebel-held areas ahead of the evacuation.
Activist Abu Yassin al-Homsi said up to 1,200 fighters were expected to leave the city today, handing it over to president Bashar Assad’s forces.
In exchange for their evacuation, activists say opposition fighters will allow aid into two northern pro-government villages besieged by rebels.
Homs governor Talal Barazi confirmed that the rebels had started leaving.
The buses were accompanied by Syrian army officers.
The rebel fighters will be taken a few miles north to the towns of Talbiseh and al-Dar al-Kabira on the northern edge of Homs province.
The Britain-based Syrian Organisation for Human Rights said the road to the besieged villages of Nubul and Zahra were opened by the rebels at the same time the evacuation was taking place.
Rebel-held central neighbourhoods of Homs have been besieged by Syrian government forces for more than a year, causing widespread hunger.
