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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: Siege evacuations under way | Syria conflict: Siege evacuations under way |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Relief agencies backed by the UN have begun to evacuate 500 wounded people from besieged Syrian towns. | Relief agencies backed by the UN have begun to evacuate 500 wounded people from besieged Syrian towns. |
| Half will come from towns blockaded by pro-government forces, and half from towns blocked off by rebels. | Half will come from towns blockaded by pro-government forces, and half from towns blocked off by rebels. |
| Almost half a million people live under siege in Syria, the UN estimates. | Almost half a million people live under siege in Syria, the UN estimates. |
| Peace talks that began a week ago in Geneva have hit difficulties and it is not clear whether a partial truce that has lasted seven weeks so far will hold. | Peace talks that began a week ago in Geneva have hit difficulties and it is not clear whether a partial truce that has lasted seven weeks so far will hold. |
| Opposition representatives walked out of the talks this week, blaming government violations of the ceasefire. | |
| Activists said government air strikes on Tuesday had killed 40 people in rebel-held areas. | |
| 'Urgent need' | |
| The news agency Reuters reports that 250 wounded people are being evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, near the Lebanese border. Both these towns are blockaded by pro-government forces. | The news agency Reuters reports that 250 wounded people are being evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya, near the Lebanese border. Both these towns are blockaded by pro-government forces. |
| Meanwhile, an agreement has been reached for 250 wounded people to leave Foah and Kefraya in the north-west of the country. Both of these towns are predominantly loyal to the government and are blockaded by rebels. | Meanwhile, an agreement has been reached for 250 wounded people to leave Foah and Kefraya in the north-west of the country. Both of these towns are predominantly loyal to the government and are blockaded by rebels. |
| A UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the people chosen for evacuation were "in urgent need of life-saving medical attention". | |
| He said: "The sad thing is, we should not have to negotiate medical evacuations." | |
| This is the first major evacuation since December 2015. | |
| Meanwhile, the Syrian regime's chief representative in Geneva, Bashar al-Jaafari, insisted that the talks there would continue. | |
| He told reporters that "no faction" had a "veto power". | |
| Mr Jaafari said: "By leaving, [the opposition representatives] may be taking away a major obstacle and that will allow us to reach a solution." |