Clashes erupt in Syrian city of Homs, truce violated
Iran Press TV
Sat Feb 8, 2014 4:16PM GMT
Clashes have broken out around militant-held districts of Syria's Homs city as the UN is poised to deliver aid to civilians on the second day of a humanitarian truce.
Fresh fighting erupted on Saturday, a day after 83 people were evacuated from the city.
The evacuation and aid delivery were parts of a three-day ceasefire brokered by the UN between the Syrian army and the foreign-backed militants.
According to the official SANA news agency, Homs provincial governor Talal al-Barazi said foreign-backed militants breached the truce.
'The armed terrorist groups broke the truce this morning in the Old City of Homs by launching mortar rounds at the police headquarters in the Saa area,' he said.
The governor further added that the country's military commanders have been told to exercise maximum restraint 'to allow the evacuation of civilians."
The UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said UN teams had 'food, medical and other basic supplies for immediate delivery.'
Under the deal, women, children and the elderly trapped by the fighting were allowed to leave the ancient parts of Homs, also known as Old City.
The deal allows the entrance of humanitarian assistance for civilians who choose to stay, while the two sides have also agreed on a pause in fighting as the deal is being implemented.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Some sources say more than 130,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by Western-backed militants.
SAB/AB/SS
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