Syrian rebels have begun their withdrawal from Homs following a deal brokered by the UN with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. <br /><br />Buses carrying the first several hundred fighters left the downtown area ending a siege that has lasted over a year. <br /><br />It is been reported that they were brought to the town of Al-Dar Al-Kabira.<br /><br />A total of 1,200 fighters are expected to leave Homs in stages. Some reports have put the figure at around 2,000.<br /><br />The evacuation is set to consolidate the Damascus government’s military control as Homs has been known as the “capital of the revolution” since protests erupted in 2011. <br /><br />Presidential elections are set to take place on June 3 with al-Assad widely expected to sweep the polls. <br /><br />Opponents have said that no credible vote can take place in a country with over six million people displaced and another 2.5 million refugees abroad.
