This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27306525

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Syria conflict: Rebels evacuating Old City of Homs Syria conflict: Rebels evacuated from Old City of Homs
(about 4 hours later)
The evacuation of rebels from their last stronghold in the Syrian city of Homs is under way, activists say. Hundreds of rebels have been evacuated from their last stronghold in the central Syrian city of Homs.
The first buses left the Old City on Wednesday morning under a deal brokered by the United Nations. Two convoys of buses have so far left the Old City and taken fighters to rebel-held territory to the north.
At least two buses have arrived in rebel-held territory to the north, carrying a number of armed fighters. The withdrawal is part of a UN-brokered deal that will also see rebels release dozens of captives and ease two sieges.
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 three years of resistance in the central 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. Much of Homs fell to the opposition in 2011, but over the past two years government forces have gradually regained control by subjecting areas once home to tens of thousands to continuous siege and bombardment.
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 were sad and bitter as they said 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 the government's forces employed the 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 rest of the world failed us," one activist told the BBC as he prepared to leave.
"The rest of the world failed us," one activist told the BBC by Skype as he prepared for the evacuation. A video posted online by activists on Wednesday morning showed the first group of fighters, some with their faces covered, walking in a line towards green buses.
A video posted online by activists showed a group of fighters, some with their faces covered, walking in a line towards green buses and a white UN 4x4 vehicle, watched by government police officers. They were watched by around a dozen men in uniform and flak jackets marked "police". In front of the buses was a white vehicle with the markings of the UN.
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". Each fighter was allowed to take one bag and a rifle, and one rocket-propelled-grenade launcher was permitted per bus.
Each fighter was reportedly allowed to carry his rifle and a bag of belongings with him. One rocket-propelled-grenade launcher and a machine-gun were also allowed on each bus. The first convoy arrived soon afterwards at the rebel-held towns of Talbisah and Dar al-Kabira, about 20km (12 miles) to the north.
The first group of evacuated fighters arrived soon afterwards at the rebel-held towns of Talbisah and Dar al-Kabrira, about 20km (12 miles) to the north.
Wael, an activist in the nearby village of Tair Maale, said he had received several of the evacuees.Wael, an activist in the nearby village of Tair Maale, said he had received several of the evacuees.
"I asked one of my friends, who is now resting in my house, and he said to me that he felt hungry, and in pain and tearful over leaving Homs," he told AFP. "He said he felt his soul being pulled out of his body as he left Homs.""I asked one of my friends, who is now resting in my house, and he said to me that he felt hungry, and in pain and tearful over leaving Homs," he told AFP. "He said he felt his soul being pulled out of his body as he left Homs."
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. Local activists said the first 600 to leave were wounded fighters and civilians.
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 northern province of Aleppo began allowing humanitarian aid into two predominantly Shia Muslim towns loyal to President Assad - Nubul and Zahraa - that they have been besieging, activists said.
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. The deal, which was brokered by the UN and agreed only after many months of negotiation, also saw the release of a number of hostages being held by rebels in Aleppo and Latakia provinces. One report said a Russian national and several Iranians were among them.
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, attempted to break the siege with a series of suicide bombings, but failed.
The al-Nusra Front, which is affiliated to al Qaeda, attempted to break the siege with a series of suicide bombings, but failed. One more district of Homs is still holding out - al-Wair on the periphery, where an estimated 200,000 people displaced from other areas are said to be living. 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.