Tearful Syrians in rebel enclave begin new evacuation

ARBIN: Weeping Syrians boarded buses to leave a ravaged pocket of Eastern Ghouta yesterday, in a new wave of evacuations to clear another part of the former rebel bastion, reports AFP.

Five weeks since the Syrian regime launched an all-out assault on Ghouta, it holds more than 90 percent of the onetime opposition stronghold on the edge of Damascus.

To help it capture the rest, key government backer Russia has mediated talks with various rebel groups to negotiate withdrawals from the three remaining pockets.

One area was emptied under such a deal in recent days and evacuations began late Saturday for a second part, held by the Islamist Faylaq al-Rahman rebel faction.

That agreement is set to see some 7,000 rebels and civilians bussed from the towns of Arbin and Zamalka and the district of Jobar to the rebel-dominated province of Idlib in northwestern Syria.

After hours of delay, around 980 of them quit Ghouta on Saturday night aboard 17 buses and several ambulances.

They arrived in part of Hama province near the border with Idlib on Sunday morning.

Fresh evacuations were expected on Sunday.

Devastated Syrian civilians and rebel fighters dressed in black gathered in the early morning in the main streets of Arbin, AFP's correspondent there said.

They carried duffel bags and dragged suitcases stuffed to the brim as they shuffled past ruined buildings.

By mid-morning, around 20 empty buses and ambulances had entered the town, parking at a large roundabout.

Fighters and civilians began to board, bidding tearful goodbyes to their home towns before they headed to opposition territory further north.

Hamza Abbas, an opposition activist in the nearby town of Zamalka, told AFP he was planning to board the buses too.

"People are very sad about leaving their homes, their land, their childhood memories and the place where they spent the best days of their childhood," he said.

Tearful Syrians in rebel enclave begin new evacuation

ARBIN: Weeping Syrians boarded buses to leave a ravaged pocket of Eastern Ghouta yesterday, in a new wave of evacuations to clear another part of the former rebel bastion, reports AFP. Five weeks since the Syrian regime launched an all-out assault on Ghouta, it holds more than 90 percent of the onetime opposition stronghold on the edge of Damascus. To help it capture the rest, key government backer Russia has mediated talks with various rebel groups to negotiate withdrawals from the three remaining pockets. One area was emptied under such a deal in recent days and evacuations began late Saturday for a second part, held by the Islamist Faylaq al-Rahman rebel faction. That agreement is set to see some 7,000 rebels and civilians bussed from the towns of Arbin and Zamalka and the district of Jobar to the rebel-dominated province of Idlib in northwestern Syria. After hours of delay, around 980 of them quit Ghouta on Saturday night aboard 17 buses and several ambulances. They arrived in part of Hama province near the border with Idlib on Sunday morning. Fresh evacuations were expected on Sunday. Devastated Syrian civilians and rebel fighters dressed in black gathered in the early morning in the main streets of Arbin, AFPs correspondent there said. They carried duffel bags and dragged suitcases stuffed to the brim as they shuffled past ruined buildings. By mid-morning, around 20 empty buses and ambulances had entered the town, parking at a large roundabout. Fighters and civilians began to board, bidding tearful goodbyes to their home towns before they headed to opposition territory further north. Hamza Abbas, an opposition activist in the nearby town of Zamalka, told AFP he was planning to board the buses too. People are very sad about leaving their homes, their land, their childhood memories and the place where they spent the best days of their childhood, he said.