Syrian rebels start leaving Damascus

DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syrian rebels and their families started to leave a district of Damascus for the first time on Monday, bringing the government closer to recapturing all of the capital.

The evacuation began days after regime backers Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a deal to implement “de-escalation zones” where the government and opposition will halt hostilities.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday rejected any role for the United Nations or interna- tional forces in monitoring the zones.

Hours later the U.N. announced a new round of peace talks on Syria would begin in Switzerland on May 16.

The deal to evacuate Barzeh district mirrors similar agreements for opposition-held territory elsewhere, allowing fighters safe passage in exchange for surrender.

State television cited the Damascus provincial governor as saying a first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, had left Barzeh on Monday.

The channel said the evacuation would take five days, but that rebels who chose to stay could do so if they registered with the government.

Those leaving will head to the rebel-held province of Idlib, in Syria’s northwest.

The deal was struck late Sunday night, and dozens of people gathered in Barzeh from Monday morning.

An AFP photographer saw rebel fighters carrying light weapons looking on as children and women in brightly-colored headscarves pulled their suitcases and duffel bags.