The Syrian rebel presence in Homs has come to an end.<br /><br />The city, once known as the capital of the revolution and peaceful pro-democracy protests, is now under the control of Syrian troops as part of a deal between the insurgents and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.<br /><br />It follows months of gains by the army, backed by its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.<br /><br />Rebels cheered as they left, but the fall of Syria’s third largest city is a major blow to the opposition and a boost for Assad weeks before his likely re-election.<br /><br />Yacoub al-Helou, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordinator, praised both sides for maintaining the ceasefire.<br /><br />After two years of bloody combat, there is little left but ruins that epitomise Syria’s brutal civil war.<br /><br />Although much of the area has been cleared of insurgents, the army is not expected to move into the Old City until it has been checked for explosives.
