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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: 'Deal reached' on Homs civilian evacuations | Syria conflict: 'Deal reached' on Homs civilian evacuations |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Syrian government says a deal has been reached to allow what it terms "innocent civilians" to leave besieged areas of the city of Homs. | The Syrian government says a deal has been reached to allow what it terms "innocent civilians" to leave besieged areas of the city of Homs. |
| Women, children, the elderly and the wounded would be allowed to leave, according to an agreement between the city's governor and the UN, the foreign ministry said. | Women, children, the elderly and the wounded would be allowed to leave, according to an agreement between the city's governor and the UN, the foreign ministry said. |
| Parts of Homs Old City have been under army siege since June 2012. | Parts of Homs Old City have been under army siege since June 2012. |
| The United Nations welcomed reports of a humanitarian pause in the fighting. | |
| Farhan Haq, spokesman for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said the UN and its partners had pre-positioned supplies on the outskirts of Homs "ready for immediate delivery as soon as the green light was given by the parties for safe passage". | |
| Aid staff were also on standby, he said. | |
| The Syrian Red Crescent told the BBC that the hope was for an evacuation to take place on Friday, and for supplies to be taken in to remaining civilians the following day. | The Syrian Red Crescent told the BBC that the hope was for an evacuation to take place on Friday, and for supplies to be taken in to remaining civilians the following day. |
| Peace talks in Geneva last month between the Syrian government and the opposition failed to reach a deal on a potential evacuation. | Peace talks in Geneva last month between the Syrian government and the opposition failed to reach a deal on a potential evacuation. |
| There has not yet been a statement from the rebels in response to Thursday's reports. | |
| In a separate development, Syria said that accusations it was delaying the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile were "absolutely unjustified". | In a separate development, Syria said that accusations it was delaying the destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile were "absolutely unjustified". |
| Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad said his country was "doing its best" to comply with the timetable for destruction set out in the UN-backed agreement on the future of Syria's stockpile. | Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad said his country was "doing its best" to comply with the timetable for destruction set out in the UN-backed agreement on the future of Syria's stockpile. |
| 'Rancour' | 'Rancour' |
| Homs has seen some of the most intense fighting of the three-year civil war and much of the city lies in ruins. | Homs has seen some of the most intense fighting of the three-year civil war and much of the city lies in ruins. |
| Living conditions for those trapped in the besieged zone are believed to be dire. | Living conditions for those trapped in the besieged zone are believed to be dire. |
| Food is scarce and there is little access to medical supplies. | Food is scarce and there is little access to medical supplies. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut, says that it has taken many days of detailed negotiations on the ground for this deal to be reached. | The BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut, says that it has taken many days of detailed negotiations on the ground for this deal to be reached. |
| There is little trust and much rancour between the two sides, he adds. | There is little trust and much rancour between the two sides, he adds. |
| In the past, similar plans for an evacuation of civilians have gone off the rails at the last minute. | In the past, similar plans for an evacuation of civilians have gone off the rails at the last minute. |
| Homs - Syria's third largest city - has been a key battleground in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. | Homs - Syria's third largest city - has been a key battleground in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Much of the city initially fell under rebel fighters' control, but government forces have since retaken many areas, forcing the opposition into the Old City. | Much of the city initially fell under rebel fighters' control, but government forces have since retaken many areas, forcing the opposition into the Old City. |
| Up to 3,000 civilians are believed to be trapped there. | Up to 3,000 civilians are believed to be trapped there. |