More than 300 Syrians living in a rebel held town near Damascus were evacuated on Friday under a deal with the Government, state media reported.
The agreement between the regime and the rebels had already seen thousands of civilians and opposition fighters leave the town of Daraya, southwest of the capital, after a four-year Government siege. Civilians evacuated today from nearby Moadimayet al-Sham had been living there for around three years after fleeing fighting in Daraya. Moadimayet al-Sham is also under Government siege, but after a truce deal signed in late 2013 has been spared the heavy fighting that has ravaged other rebel-held areas around the capital. Negotiations are underway to secure a deal under which rebel fighters in the town will also leave, though civilians will reportedly remain, parties to the talks told AFP. The evacuees walked to the edge of Moadimayet al-Sham, where eight buses were waiting to take them to reception centres elsewhere in Damascus province, an AFP photographer reported.