Syria Rebels Quit Homs Old City, Residents Return to Ruins

The Syrian government was today enjoying a symbolicvictory as  civilians began trickling backinto the rubble of Homs' Old City after the last rebels left under anevacuation deal.

Thepullout, completed yesterday, leaves the rebels confined to a single districton the outskirts of the central city, once "the capital of therevolution" against President Bashar al-Assad.

As troopsmoved in to clear out explosives, hundreds of civilians began returning to seewhat remained of their homes in Hamidiyeh, a Christian district in the OldTown, which has been under nearly daily bombardment during a two-year siege.

Many wereshocked, with tears in their eyes, as they climbed over debris to inspect theruins, said an AFP journalist at the scene.

"Mywhole house is destroyed. I went to my in-laws' home, and that's destroyed too.Nothing, except a few objects, remains," said Wafa.

The finalconvoy of rebels withdrew after a day-long delay blamed on fighters in northernSyria blocking an aid convoy destined for two pro-regime towns besieged by oppositionfighters in Aleppo province.

Thedelivery had been pledged as part of an exchange that eventually saw some 2,000people, mainly rebels, leave the Old City with a guarantee of safe passage.

HomsGovernor Talal al-Barazi said, "we have completed the evacuation of armedmen from the Old City of Homs."

Most leftWednesday and Thursday, but buses carrying the last 250 rebels were delayedtill yesterday because fighters not involved in the deal blocked the pledgedflow of food supplies into the Shiite towns of Nubol and Zahraa, said the SyrianObservatory for Human Rights.

State newsagency SANA quoted Barazi as saying government troops had entered the Old Cityon yesterday and began clearing it of explosives planted by the rebels.

Theneighbourhood was devastated. Shop windows were cracked, and the few wallsremaining upright were riddled with bullets.

This is notthe first deal between the government and the rebels, but is the first timerebel fighters have withdrawn from an area they controlled after an accord.

It is alsothe first time Syria's rebels and security agencies have signed a deal afternegotiations, supervised by the ambassador of key Damascus ally Iran.

UN ResidentCoordinator Yaacub El Hillo, who was in Homs, welcomed the deal.