(VOVworld) - Governor Talal al-Barazi on Friday declared the Old City of Homs in Syria "secure" and "free of arms and gunmen". 

A military vehicle that belongs to the Free Syrian Army is seen in Al-Amariya district in Aleppo May 8, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

The rebels' evacuation from the Old City of Homs is part of a deal concluded recently between the Syrian government troops and the armed militant groups. The deal went into effect earlier last week with a ceasefire Wednesday and the departure of around 968 rebels and civilians from districts of old Homs to the town of al-Dar al-Kabira in northern Homs.  The army of President Bashar al-Assad will take over this strategic city after it was besieged in June, 2012.