Hundreds evacuated from besieged city of Homs

Hundreds of civilians seeking to flee the besieged Syrian city of Homs were evacuated on Sunday.

Aid groups were also able to deliver much-needed food and medical supplies to the residents left behind in the stricken city.

In total, more than 600 were evacuated from Homs, but Al-Jazeera, citing the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said five were killed by mortar shells and two from gunfire.

The evacuation was part of a three-day ceasefire that began Friday between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and armed rebels.

Forces loyal to Assad have blockaded rebel-held parts of the city for over a year.