Syria rebels deny withdrawing arms under deal

BEIRUT: Syrian rebels denied on Sunday they had pulled any heavy arms from a major opposition bastion in the north, as the deadline to implement a demilitarisation deal there draws closer.

Regime ally Moscow and rebel backer Ankara agreed earlier this month to create a buffer zone around the opposition stronghold of Idlib that would be free of both militants and heavy arms.

The deal has so far averted a massive assault on the region by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s government, but its implementation in areas packed with rival militants and rebels is expected to be complex.

The National Liberation Front (NLF), a pro-turkey rebel alliance, welcomed the agreement but said Sunday it had not yet moved any heavy arms from the planned zone.

“There have been no withdrawals of heavy weapons from any area or any front. This report is denied, completely denied,” NLF spokesman Naji Mustafa said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor had earlier said one faction of the NLF began withdrawing its heavy weapons under the Turkishrussian agreement.

It said Faylaq Al Rahman, whose ighters number BETWEEN 8,500 AND 10,000, were LEAVING THREE towns In THE planned buffer zone on sunday“with heavy weapons, including tanks and cannons.”

The Britain-based monitor uses a vast network of sources INCLUDING ighters, oficials AND MEDICAL STAFF.

A spokesman for Faylaq Al Rahman also told AFP on Sunday it had not moved any forces or arms.

“There have been no changes in the location of weapons or redistribution of ighters, Even As we remain Committed to the agreement reached in (the Russian resort of) Sochi,” said Sayf Al Raad.

“We are still coordinating with the Turkish guarantor on following the agreement and ways to implement it,” he added.

On Sept.17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to set up A DEMILITARISED zone About 15 to 20 kilometres wide ringing around Idlib.

All factions in the planned buffer must hand over their heavy weapons By OCT.10, AND RADICAL Groups must withdraw By OCT.15, ACCORDING to THE agreement.

The deal was welcomed by world powers, aid organisations, and the United Nations, which all hoped it would help avoid a bloody military assault on the area.