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Syria army 'retakes' key Homs district of Khalidiya Syria army 'retakes' key Homs district of Khalidiya
(about 1 hour later)
Syrian government forces have fully captured a district that was a key rebel stronghold in the central city of Homs, state media report.Syrian government forces have fully captured a district that was a key rebel stronghold in the central city of Homs, state media report.
The Sana news agency said the military had "completely restored security and stability to Khalidiya neighbourhood". The Sana news agency said the military had "restored security and stability to the neighbourhood of Khalidiya".
Activists reported clashes in Khalidiya on Monday morning, but said that most of the area was under army control.Activists reported clashes in Khalidiya on Monday morning, but said that most of the area was under army control.
The announcement comes a month after troops launched an offensive to oust rebels from Syria's third largest city.The announcement comes a month after troops launched an offensive to oust rebels from Syria's third largest city.
Only the Old City and a few other districts are still held by the opposition. Homs has been one of the focuses of a two-year nationwide uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, in which the UN says more than 100,000 people have died.
On Sunday, the pan-Arab TV station al-Mayadeen broadcast footage of Khalidiya, showing heavily damaged buildings and piles of rubble. 'Almost over'
Homs has been a focus of the two-year uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, in which the UN says more than 100,000 people have died. On Monday, Sana reported: "Units of our noble army have completely restored security and stability to Khalidiya neighbourhood and eliminated terrorists who tried to attack the National Hospital in the Homs countryside".
But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, dismissed the claim.
While it acknowledged that government forces were in control of most of Khalidiya, it said there were still clashes in southern areas.
Another opposition activist told the Associated Press that the battle for Khalidiya was "almost over".
On Sunday, the Arabic TV station al-Mayadeen, which is seen as close to the Syrian government, broadcast what it said was footage of Khalidiya, showing heavily damaged buildings and piles of rubble.
It also showed pictures of the interior of the famous Khaled bin Walid mosque, a focal point for anti-government protesters, which troops reportedly seized on Saturday.
Only the Old City of Homs and a few other districts are still held by the opposition.
On Monday, government jets bombed the Bab Hud district of the Old City, just south of Khalidiya, according to the Syrian Observatory.
Correspondents say the capture of Khalidiya would add further impetus to the counter-offensive by government troops, backed by fighters from the militant Lebanese Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah, which saw the nearby town of Qusair fall in early June.