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| Syria rebels leave besieged Baba Amr district of Homs | Syria rebels leave besieged Baba Amr district of Homs |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Syrian rebel force fighting government troops in the besieged city of Homs says most of its fighters have left the Baba Amr district in a "tactical" withdrawal. | The Syrian rebel force fighting government troops in the besieged city of Homs says most of its fighters have left the Baba Amr district in a "tactical" withdrawal. |
| The Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it was pulling out of Baba Amr to spare the lives of the 4,000 civilians who were refusing to leave their homes. | The Free Syrian Army (FSA) said it was pulling out of Baba Amr to spare the lives of the 4,000 civilians who were refusing to leave their homes. |
| Baba Amr has been under heavy bombardment for nearly a month. | Baba Amr has been under heavy bombardment for nearly a month. |
| Syrian government forces say they now have full control of Baba Amr. | |
| The head of the Free Syrian Army, Col Riyad al-Assad, said government troops had already moved in and were combing the area. | |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says the withdrawal was obviously by agreement between the two sides, as has happened elsewhere in Syria, to avoid a final showdown. | The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, says the withdrawal was obviously by agreement between the two sides, as has happened elsewhere in Syria, to avoid a final showdown. |
| A few fighters remained behind in Baba Amr to cover the retreat, the FSA said. | |
| A statement posted online in the name of the Baba Amr brigade of the FSA said the fighters did not have enough weapons to defend the civilians. | A statement posted online in the name of the Baba Amr brigade of the FSA said the fighters did not have enough weapons to defend the civilians. |
| It calls on the Red Cross to enter Baba Amr immediately to help all civilians still there. | It calls on the Red Cross to enter Baba Amr immediately to help all civilians still there. |
| It also warns the government forces not to harm civilians, saying the opposition would take severe revenge if they did. | |
| It has been snowing heavily in Homs, slowing the advance of ground troops which began their offensive on Tuesday, but also worsening conditions for civilians. | |
| Hundreds of people died during the month-long bombardment, activists say. | |
| Meanwhile, the exile political opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) says it has formed a military bureau to co-ordinate armed anti-government groups. | |
| However, our correspondent says the FSA is refusing to accept the authority of the new bureau - evidence of deep splits within the opposition. |