Ceasefire in Syria falters as four hurt

TWO LORRIES carrying food and medical supplies into rebel-held neighbourhoods in the central Syrian city of Homs turned back under heavy fire, leaving four paramedics wounded as a ceasefire faltered.

Talal Barrazi, the governor of Homs province, told the Lebanon- based Al-Mayadeen TV the attack occurred late on Saturday afternoon and that the trucks were targeted by two roadside bombs and a mortar shell from the rebel side.

Homs activist Ahmad al-Qusair denied there had been roadside bombs and said the convoy was attacked by mortar shells fired by government forces.

Mr Barrazi later told Syrian stateTV that two lorries were able to reach oppositionheld areas earlier in the day.

Al-Mayadeen also reported that two trucks, carrying 250 food parcels, were able to cross into rebel-held areas yesterday.

The state TV said four members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were wounded by rebel fire in the area.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said on its Facebook page that its members were able to deliver 250 food parcels and 190 parcels containing detergents and medicines to the central area of Hamidiyeh despite being targeted by several mortar rounds.

It added that one of its members was wounded and two lorries were damaged.

Mr Barrazi said about 100 civilians expected to be evacuated from rebel-held areas had yet to arrive.

On Friday, 83 children, women and elderly people on wheelchairs were evacuated from Homs, the first people to leave the area in months, the United Nations said.

Picture: AP. Protesters in Istanbul being blasted with jets of water.