BEIRUT, May 29. /ITAR-TASS/. In five districts of the southern Damascus suburbs, a local ceasefire agreement with the militants has come into effect on Thursday, Al-Manar TV channel reports. An agreement has been reached about the withdrawal of armed groups from Al Qadam, Al Assali, Jurat Sharibati, Port Said and Al Maamouniye. Those who refuse to lay down arms will be able to leave the city towards the Al Hajar Al Aswad suburb, where locations of militants remain.

A similar deal was made early in May in the ancient blocks of Homs, which was left by 2183 militants from opposition groups.

The local truce in the south of Damascus, local commentators say, is an important achievement in the process of normalizing the situation in the capital five days before presidential elections.