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Syrian government forces have taken full control of Douma: Russia

Syrian government forces have taken full control of Douma: Russia

Syria

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Russian news agency reported that the last rebel stronghold in eastern Ghouta enclave outside Damascus was under Syrian government control.

The Russian defence ministry said today the Syrian government forces have taken full control of Douma with the Syrian regime's flag flying over the town.

Russian news agency reported that the last rebel stronghold in eastern Ghouta enclave outside Damascus was under Syrian government control.

"The raised state flag over a building in the town of Douma has heralded the control over this location and therefore over the whole of eastern Ghouta," Russian news agencies quoted Major-General Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian peace and reconciliation centre in Syria.

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Russian TV reported red, white and black flag with two green stars hanging over the unidentified buildings in eastern Ghouta.

"From today, units of the Russian armed forces' military police are working in the town of Douma. They are a guarantee of the observance of law and order in the town," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

The Russian military said the situation in Douma was normalising and a total of 166,644 people had been evacuated from the city through a humanitarian corridor.

Meanwhile, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the remaining rebels in Syria's eastern Ghouta have surrendered heavy weapons as they fled the enclave to the north.

"Jaish al-Islam fighters handed over their heavy weapons to Russian military police in the town of Douma on Wednesday," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.