Middle East

In Syria, population transfers stalled over violence resume

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This frame grab from video provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows buses carrying opposition fighters leaving Zabadani, near Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, April. 19, 2017, heading toward the northern rebel-held Idlib province. Syria's military media says the evacuation and transfer of thousands of Syrians from four besieged areas has resumed. Logo in Arabic reads, "Millitary Media." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP) (The Associated Press)

This frame grab from video provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows buses carrying opposition fighters leaving Zabadani, near Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, April. 19, 2017, heading toward the northern rebel-held Idlib province. Syria's military media says the evacuation and transfer of thousands of Syrians from four besieged areas has resumed. Logo in Arabic reads, "Millitary Media." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP) (The Associated Press)

This frame grab from video provided by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows buses carrying opposition fighters leaving Zabadani through a checkpoint, near Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, April. 19, 2017, heading toward the northern rebel-held Idlib province. Syria's military media says the evacuation and transfer of thousands of Syrians from four besieged areas has resumed. Logo in Arabic reads, "Millitary Media." (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP) (The Associated Press)

A Syrian state TV says the troubled population transfers involving thousands of Syrians have resumed after stalling for days following a massive explosion that killed dozens.

The deal between the government and rebels envisions the transfer of 30,000 people over 60 days.

Al-Ikhbariya TV broadcast the arrival Friday of buses carrying hundreds of residents of pro-government villages Foua and Kfarya, besieged by rebels, to temporary shelters in government-controlled Aleppo suburb.

Amer Burhan, an evacuee from the pro-opposition town Zabadani, says their buses began moving toward rebel-held Idlib province.

The evacuees were trapped at an exchange point for days as negotiators argued over identities of prisoners to be released as part of the exchange. Earlier, an explosion hit the first group of evacuees Saturday, killing over 130, half of them children.