Evacuation of city begins

Syrian rebels and civilians have started leaving a ravaged and long-besieged suburb of Damascus as part of a deal struck with the government.

The first bus with rebels and their families emerged from inside Daraya on Friday, surrounded by armed Syrian army troops.

Under the agreement, the rebels will be allowed safe passage to the rebelheld northern province of Idlib, while the civilians will be taken to a shelter south of Daraya. Rebels struck the deal on Thursday, after four years of bombardment and siege.

Members of the Free Syrian Army and civilians are quitting Daraya, a suburb south west of Damascus