Hundreds Evacuated from Homs in Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Six hundred people - mostly women, children and the elderly - have been evacuated from the Syrian city of Homs, according to non-governmental organisations.
They were brought out by humanitarian assistance teams on Sunday despite mortar attacks and shooting.
More civilians may be rescued as rebels and the Syrian army have extended the ceasefire for another three days.
The evacuation of about 600 of the 3,000 trapped people came as representatives from both sides converged on Geneva, Switzerland, for new peace talks.
Sunday's evacuation was the second after 83 people were brought out on Friday - the first day of the truce.
The Syrian Red Crescent said on Facebook "around 600 people evacuated today, registration is still ongoing. We managed to get 60 food parcels & 1500Kg of flour inside old city".
Television footage showed women, children and elderly men getting off the evacuation buses.
They appeared visibly exhausted and frail, in a video broadcast by the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV channel.
The civilians evacuated from Homs on Sunday were aided by UN staff and Syrian Red Crescent volunteers amid a strong Syrian army presence, Al Jazeera reported.
State television said the operation took place under fire from "armed terrorist groups" - government terminology for rebels.
