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| Syria conflict: Rebels evacuating Old City of Homs | Syria conflict: Rebels evacuating Old City of Homs |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The evacuation of rebels from their last stronghold in the Syrian city of Homs is under way, activists say. | The evacuation of rebels from their last stronghold in the Syrian city of Homs is under way, activists say. |
| The first buses left the Old City on Wednesday morning under a deal brokered by the United Nations. | The first buses left the Old City on Wednesday morning under a deal brokered by the United Nations. |
| At least two buses have arrived in rebel-held territory to the north, carrying a number of armed fighters. | At least two buses have arrived in rebel-held territory to the north, carrying a number of armed fighters. |
| It marks the end of any rebel presence in the heart of the major city once dubbed the "capital of the revolution" against President Bashar al-Assad. | It marks the end of any rebel presence in the heart of the major city once dubbed the "capital of the revolution" against President Bashar al-Assad. |
| Earlier this year, about 1,400 people were evacuated from the Old City under an operation overseen by the UN and Red Crescent. | Earlier this year, about 1,400 people were evacuated from the Old City under an operation overseen by the UN and Red Crescent. |
| However, a group of fighters and civilians, including many injured, stayed behind despite the increasingly tough conditions. | However, a group of fighters and civilians, including many injured, stayed behind despite the increasingly tough conditions. |
| 'World failed us' | 'World failed us' |
| The BBC's Paul Wood in Beirut says the rebel fighters and their families are sad and bitter as they say goodbye to a place they swore they would never leave. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Beirut says the rebel fighters and their families are sad and bitter as they say goodbye to a place they swore they would never leave. |
| They buckled finally, our correspondent adds, after two years of siege - the government's forces following a tactic of what some Syrian army officers called "surrender or starve". | They buckled finally, our correspondent adds, after two years of siege - the government's forces following a tactic of what some Syrian army officers called "surrender or starve". |
| The siege of the Old City was tightened in recent months with intense shelling and air strikes. | The siege of the Old City was tightened in recent months with intense shelling and air strikes. |
| "The rest of the world failed us," one activist told the BBC by Skype as he prepared for the evacuation. | "The rest of the world failed us," one activist told the BBC by Skype as he prepared for the evacuation. |
| A photograph posted online on Wednesday morning showed two green buses driving through the frontline towards the evacuation point for the rebel fighters. | A photograph posted online on Wednesday morning showed two green buses driving through the frontline towards the evacuation point for the rebel fighters. |
| Later, rebel negotiator Abdul Hareth al-Khalidi told the AFP news agency that three buses had left, "carrying 120 people in total, a mixture of wounded and non-wounded civilians and fighters". | Later, rebel negotiator Abdul Hareth al-Khalidi told the AFP news agency that three buses had left, "carrying 120 people in total, a mixture of wounded and non-wounded civilians and fighters". |
| Homs governor Talal al-Barazi told the BBC that the operation was scheduled to end on Wednesday. | Homs governor Talal al-Barazi told the BBC that the operation was scheduled to end on Wednesday. |
| He was earlier quoted by the state news agency Sana as saying that an estimated 2,000 people would be evacuated overall, while local activist Abu Yassin al-Homsi told the Associated Press that up to 1,200 fighters were expected to leave. | He was earlier quoted by the state news agency Sana as saying that an estimated 2,000 people would be evacuated overall, while local activist Abu Yassin al-Homsi told the Associated Press that up to 1,200 fighters were expected to leave. |
| At the same time, rebels in the north of the country began allowing humanitarian aid into two predominantly Shia Muslim towns loyal to President Assad - Nubul and Zahraa - that they have been besieging. | At the same time, rebels in the north of the country began allowing humanitarian aid into two predominantly Shia Muslim towns loyal to President Assad - Nubul and Zahraa - that they have been besieging. |
| The deal, which was brokered by the UN and was agreed only after many months of negotiation, will also reportedly see the release of a number of hostages being held by rebels in Aleppo. | |
| Our correspondent says the armed groups within the Old City of Homs were deeply divided about whether to accept a ceasefire. | Our correspondent says the armed groups within the Old City of Homs were deeply divided about whether to accept a ceasefire. |
| The al-Nusra Front, which is affiliated to al Qaeda, wanted to try to break the siege with a series of suicide bombings. It attempted to do this, but failed, and al-Nusra fighters will be on the evacuation buses too. | The al-Nusra Front, which is affiliated to al Qaeda, wanted to try to break the siege with a series of suicide bombings. It attempted to do this, but failed, and al-Nusra fighters will be on the evacuation buses too. |
| One more district of Homs is still holding out - al-Wair on the periphery. But our correspondent says fighters there have accepted a ceasefire and will leave, too, as soon as arrangements are made. | One more district of Homs is still holding out - al-Wair on the periphery. But our correspondent says fighters there have accepted a ceasefire and will leave, too, as soon as arrangements are made. |
| More than 150,000 people are believed to have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011. Another nine million have fled their homes. | More than 150,000 people are believed to have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011. Another nine million have fled their homes. |
| Despite the conflict, the Syrian government is planning to hold a presidential election on 3 June. The opposition have dismissed the poll, which Mr Assad is widely expected to win, as a farce. | Despite the conflict, the Syrian government is planning to hold a presidential election on 3 June. The opposition have dismissed the poll, which Mr Assad is widely expected to win, as a farce. |