Rebels ready to withdraw from Damascus' eastern Douma district: state media

DAMASCUS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The rebels in the Douma district of Damascus' Eastern Ghouta area are ready to lay down weapons and withdraw from their main stronghold in Douma district, state news agency SANA reported on Monday.

SANA spelled no further details yet about the news, but the Islam Army, the major rebel group in Douma, said on Monday that the news of its fighters leaving Douma is not accurate, adding that negotiations with the Russian side are ongoing.

In a statement, the Islam Army denied reaching an agreement to lay down weapons and leave Douma, saying the negotiations with the Russians are ongoing without reaching a final deal yet.

Douma is the last remaining area in Eastern Ghouta that has yet to be included in a deal akin to what happened in other towns in that sprawling countryside of Damascus, where the army captured 90 percent of its areas amid ongoing evacuation of rebels and their families from that area under a deal mediated by Russia. Enditem