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2nd batch of rebels evacuate Syria's Aleppo

Xinhua, December 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The second batch of rebels and their families left their last strongholds in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, state news agency SANA.

The first batch of rebels and their families arrived at the Rashidien area in the western countryside of Aleppo city, said the report, placing the number of the evacuees in the first batch at 1,150.

The report said that the evacuation of rebels and civilians will continue throughout the night until the evacuation is completed.

It's estimated that 15,000 people including 4,000 rebels were set to be evacuated, as part of a Russian-Turkish deal.

Buses carrying rebels started to leave eastern Aleppo on Thursday afternoon.

The move was supervised solely by the International Committee of the Red Cross, without presence of the United Nations staff, said the state TV.

The buses were leaving through the Ramouseh road, the main government road into Aleppo, since the international road had long been closed due to rebel control on some parts of it.

Ambulances carrying the ill and wounded were also seen leaving alongside the buses.

The Russians and Syrians claimed to take the responsibility of securing the rebel convoys out of Aleppo.

According to the deal, the rebels will have to surrender their weapons, except personal ones.

The TV said the Syrian army has seized weapon stashes in eastern Aleppo, including two million mortar shells, 2,000 Grad missiles and other heavy arms.

The deal also stipulates that both parties should observe a truce during the evacuation.

In exchange for the evacuation in eastern Aleppo, rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib will allow civilians to leave the besieged Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa.

Buses carrying people from the two towns have already started leaving Idlib in tandem with the departure of rebels from Aleppo.

With the evacuation, the Syrian army will take over the whole Aleppo city, as it has already controlled 99 percent of the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of the city. Endit