Syria releases 755 detainees

The head of the Arab League delegation investigating if Syria is keeping its promise to implement a peace plan said on Wednesday the situation in the flashpoint city of Homs was "reassuring so far".

"The situation seemed reassuring so far," Sudanese General Mustafa Dabi told Reuters by telephone.

"Yesterday was quiet and there were no clashes. We did not see tanks but we did see some armored vehicles. But remember this was only the first day and it will need investigation. We have 20 people who will be there for a long time."

Dabi said that some parts of the flash point city of Homs were in poor condition but that delegates saw nothing frightening. "There were some places where the situation was not good," said Sudanese General Mustafa Dabi. "But there wasn't anything frightening at least while we were there. Things were calm and there were no clashes."

Following the monitors’ tour of Homs, state television Syria TV said on Wednesday that the government has released 755 people detained during the nine-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.  

"Syrian authorities released 755 detained in recent events whose hands were not stained with Syrian blood," the station said in a news flash. Live footage carried on al Jazeera television showed gunfire and black smoke rising above Syria's central city of Hama on Wednesday as dozens of men marched through the streets chanting "Where are the Arab monitors".

Arab League monitors checking if Syria is ending a military crackdown on popular unrest are due to visit the city on Thursday. In its footage, al Jazeera showed one man bleeding from his neck as protesters shouted in the background.

Reuters