Syria ready to evacuate civilians from Homs

Syrian authorities are ready to arrange the evacuation of afflicted civilians from the besieged old quarter of Homs, said Homs province's governor Talal al-Barazi.

Police squads, physicians, and members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are on standby to arrange the evacuation of civilians from Homs' old quarter as soon as they receive a response from the UN representative, who is coordinating with the rebels inside that area, Xinhua reported quoting the governor as saying.

Evacuating women and children from Homs' old quarter was demanded by the delegation of the opposition Syrian National Coalition during the currently-underway meetings with representative of the Syrian government in the Geneva II conference.

About 3,000 civilians and 4,000 rebels are trapped in the old quarter of Homs as the Syrian regular troops have imposed a 20- months siege on that rebel-held area.