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Ten militants amnestied in Syria, six new reconciliation accords signed — report

The overall number of populated localities that have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 1,032

MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. A total of ten militants laid down arms in Syria since Monday night and another six reconciliation accords were signed, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties said on Tuesday night in a report published at the official homepage of the Russian Defense Ministry.

"The ten militants who laid down arms in the past twenty-four hours were amnesties in line with a decision announced by the Syrian President," the report said. "During the day, as many as 302 civilians left the blocked districts of eastern Aleppo with the assistance of the Russian center for reconciliation, while more than 1,100 civilians returned to their houses in the districts of the city freed from the militants."

The center stressed the signing of six accords with authorized representatives of populated localities on joining the ceasefire. The townships are located in the governorates of Latakiya (2), Damascus (2) and Homs (2).

"The overall number of populated localities that have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 1,032," the report said.

Talks with field commanders on joining the peace and quiet order continued in Muaddamiyet al-Shih in Damascus Governorate. Negotiations with the detachments of the armed opposition went on in Homs, Hama, Aleppo, and Al-Quneitra Governorates.

"The number of paramilitary units that have stated their commitment to the provisions of the ceasefire has not changed and stands at 88," the report said.

Paramilitary units opened gunfire on 36 occasions in three governorates - nineteen in Aleppo, sixteen in Damascus, and one in Al Quneitra. Specifically, the units ascribing themselves to the oppositionist grouping Jaysh al-Islam opened fires at townships and villages in Damascus; units reporting to Ahrar al-Sham grouping delivered fire from mortars at al-Salhine district in the city of Aleppo, while the Syrian Free Army shelled the district of Seif al-Daul in Aleppo.

The Russian Aerospace Force and the Syrian Air Force did not deliver airstrikes at the units of the armed opposition that had reported on non-involvement in armed operations and had informed the Russian or U.S. reconciliations centers on their location.

About five tons of relief supplies were delivered to civilians in the city of Aleppo and about a ton, to the township of Masyaf in Hama Governorate.

Stations for providing hot meals and prime necessities to the civilians leaving the districts of Aleppo still controlled by the militants continued routine operations, the report said.