Rebels leave Douma

Syrian state media say the largest rebel group in the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, has begun evacuating its last stronghold after seven years of war, but the rebels have refused to say whether they surrendered, and it was unclear who was on board a dozen buses seen leaving Douma yesterday. Douma was one of the earliest hubs of the Arab Spring uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. State media said those on the buses were fighters and family members belonging to the Saudi-backed Army of Islam. More than 30,000 people have left Douma since last week, but local activists say over 100,000 civilians are still trapped there.