First batch of civilians evacuated from Syrian city

The first batch of Syrian civilians left a rebel-controlled area of the besieged old Homs city and arrived at a Syrian government-controlled area as part of the evacuation started Friday.

The bus, carrying 11 people out of 200 expected to be evacuated Friday, arrived at the government-controlled Deik al-Jin area, Xinhua reported.

Earlier, a man was urgently evacuated by an ambulance after being injured in his hand by gun shots from rebels inside the old Homs area, reports said.

The evacuees are expected to be taken to government-prepared shelters as part of the government's agreement with the UN.

According to the agreement, the civilians will be taken to shelters set up by the government, and food aid and medicine will be sent inside the old city for those choosing to stay at their homes.

About 3,000 civilians and 4,000 rebels were trapped in the old quarter of Homs as Syria's regular troops imposed a 20-month siege on the rebel-held area.