The government denied rumours that president Bashar Assad had fled the country.
Syrian insurgents said early on Sunday they had entered Damascus as residents of the capital reported sounds of gunfire.The insurgents also announced they had entered the notorious Saydnaya military prison north of the capital and “liberated our prisoners” there.
Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Homs without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies withdrew from the city, adding that rebels entered parts of it.The insurgency announced later on Saturday that it had taken over Homs.
The advances in the past week were by far the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the United Nations. The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called on Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition”.
Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. Romania orders rerun of election first round won by far-right pro-Russia candidate after 'Kremlin interference'Smirking assassin 'arrived in New York by bus' weeks before healthcare CEO's killing - as NYPD manhunt continuesPolice in India clash with farmers during protest march over crop pricesSouth Korea's ruling party leader calls for suspension of president after attempt to impose martial lawTrump names former Georgia senator as his choice for ambassador to...
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