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Syria 'truce agreed' to evacuate Homs civilians | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says the Syrian government and rebel fighters have agreed a temporary truce to allow civilians to be evacuated from the city of Homs. | |
The ICRC said that its teams - with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent - were ready to enter the worst-hit parts of Homs. | |
However despite the agreement, aid workers have still be unable to enter. | |
Elsewhere in Syria, activists say that at least 20 soldiers were killed by rebels in the province of Latakia. | |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting took place in a region known as Jabal al-Akrad near the Turkish border. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting took place in a region known as Jabal al-Akrad near the Turkish border. |
Rebels blamed | |
Homs has been at the centre of the 15-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. | |
Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, the ICRC's regional head of operations, said fighting had been raging for more than 10 days in parts of the city. | |
"Hundreds of civilians are stuck in the old city, unable to leave and find refuge in safer areas," she said. | |
The ICRC said it had received promises from both sides that they would allow a two-hour pause in the fighting. The ICRC says it is essential it be given immediate access. | |
But although aid workers stood ready on Wednesday, they were not able to enter the city. It was not clear whether the heavy shelling and gunfire had stopped. | |
Heavy shelling by government forces in residential areas has killed hundreds of civilians and brought international condemnation. | |
The Syrian government blames the deaths on "terrorists" backed by foreign powers. | |
On Tuesday, the government said it was trying to evacuate civilians and blamed rebel fighters for obstructing its efforts. | |
UN mission 'staying' | |
Earlier on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that at least 20 soldiers were killed in an overnight attack by rebels on an army barracks in Latakia. | |
It said that dozens of soldiers had been wounded and others - including an officer - captured. | |
The group added that 58 people had been killed in violence across the country on Wednesday. | |
Neither the reports of attacks nor the casualty figures can be independently verified. | |
Latakia has recently seen some of the worst of the fighting. | |
Last week, the Syrian government said it had taken control of the western mountain town of Haffa, in Latakia, after fierce fighting with rebels. | Last week, the Syrian government said it had taken control of the western mountain town of Haffa, in Latakia, after fierce fighting with rebels. |
It said Haffa had been "purged of terrorists" and calm restored. | It said Haffa had been "purged of terrorists" and calm restored. |
UN monitors were fired on and turned away by angry residents as they tried to enter the town amid fears of a massacre. They were able to return on Friday. | UN monitors were fired on and turned away by angry residents as they tried to enter the town amid fears of a massacre. They were able to return on Friday. |
The UN observer mission has now suspended its operations in Syria amid the worsening violence. | |
Its leader, Maj Gen Robert Mood, told the UN Security Council that observers were targeted by hostile crowds and gunfire on at least 10 occasions, diplomats said. | |
But he said his decision to suspend operations did not mean the mission was leaving Syria or abandoning the Syrian people. | But he said his decision to suspend operations did not mean the mission was leaving Syria or abandoning the Syrian people. |
The UN mission has been observing the implementation of a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. | The UN mission has been observing the implementation of a peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. |
However, a ceasefire that was supposed to have come into effect in April never took hold. | However, a ceasefire that was supposed to have come into effect in April never took hold. |
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the violence have been continuing. | Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the violence have been continuing. |
At the G20 summit in Mexico on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama held separate talks with the leaders of Russia and China - both of which have blocked UN resolutions over Syria. | At the G20 summit in Mexico on Tuesday, US President Barack Obama held separate talks with the leaders of Russia and China - both of which have blocked UN resolutions over Syria. |
He said later that the talks had failed to achieve a breakthrough. | He said later that the talks had failed to achieve a breakthrough. |