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Syrian opposition fighters have begun withdrawing from the central city of Homs under a ceasefire deal agreed with government forces, opposition activists say.Several buses entered the Old City district yesterday to withdraw the first of 1,000 fighters surrounded there by government troops, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
“Three buses have left, carrying 120 people in total, a mixture of wounded and non-wounded civilians and fighters,” Abul Hareth al-Khalidi, a rebel negotiator, said.
The withdrawal of more than 1,000 fighters from Homs is part of a complex deal which also involves easing a rebel siege on two northern Shia Muslim towns loyal to the president, Bashar al-Assad.
The evacuation, which is taking place under UN supervision, will mark the end of any rebel presence in the heart of a city once called the “capital of the revolution” against Assad, handing him a major symbolic victory.
A picture post on the internet showed green buses driving through central Homs towards a collection point for the withdrawing rebel fighters. — AFP
derick.khumalo