Governor: Evacuation of civilians from rebel-held areas in central Syrian city to begin Friday

BEIRUT – The governor of the central Syrian province of Homs says the evacuation of dozens of civilians from besieged rebel-held neighbourhoods in the provincial capital is expected to begin within hours.

Homs Governor Talal Barrazi told Syrian state TV Friday that all necessary security precautions were taken for the evacuation in Homs city. It will not include men between the age of 15 and 55, those most likely to be fighters.

Barrazi says the first batch of 200 civilians will leave the rebel-held neighbourhood of Jouret el-Shayah.

The announcement came a day after President Bashar Assad’s government said it reached an agreement with the United Nations to let hundreds of trapped civilians leave besieged parts of Homs and permit U.N. humanitarian relief convoys to enter.

“The atmosphere is positive” Barrazi said.

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