FRANCE PRESS

HAMA: Dozens of Syrian army vehicles packed with soldiers left the flashpoint protest hub of Hama on Wednesday, 10 days after storming the central city to fight “armed groups,” an AFP correspondent reported from the city.

Forty personnel carriers decked with Syrian flags rolled out of Hama with soldiers chanting slogans praising embattled President Bashar Assad, said the journalist who visited the city on a tour organized by the authorities.
“With our blood and our soul we sacrifice ourselves for you, Bashar,” some chanted as others recited slogans pledging allegiance to “God, Syria, Bashar.”

In Ankara, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters in televised remarks Wednesday that Turkey’s ambassador had gone to Hama and confirmed that troops had pulled out of the city.
“It is confirmed that tanks and artillery were withdrawn from the city of Hama. But it is understood that the city lacks liveliness,” Davutoglu said, based on the preliminary information he received from envoy Omer Onhon.
“There is some military presence on the road to Hama, although not around the city. There are some checkpoints within the city,” he said.

Troops backed by tanks stormed Hama on July 31. Activists said at least 140 people were killed that day, including 100 in Hama, in the bloodiest day since Assad’s forces launched a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests that have swept the country since mid-March.

The authorities Wednesday escorted some 60 journalists to Hama, where Assad’s regime said troops went in to fight “armed terrorist gangs” the president accuses of fuelling the violence.

Journalists were taken to a police station in Al-Hader neighborhood that was torched by “saboteurs,” according to police officer Osama Khalluf.
On July 31 “all police stations were attacked simultaneously by the saboteurs,” he said, adding that “17 policemen died.”

A high-ranking army officer outside the police station added: “As you can see, there is no armed presence left in Hama … The army units have gone back to their barracks after having accomplished their mission.”
Journalists also saw that graffiti scrawled on walls had been scrubbed off. They toured the central Al-Assi Square, scene of massive anti-regime protests outside the governor’s office.

On Wednesday shops were shuttered and there were few pedestrians and cars in the normally bustling city center.
Hama governor Anas Naeem told reporters he expected city residents who had fled for safety to return home “within two days” of the army’s departure.

In other parts of Hama journalists saw workers dismantling barricades. Residents blamed the unidentified “saboteurs” for wreaking havoc on the city and showered the army with praise.
“Calm returned, thanks to the army,” said Khadija, a young woman in her 20s, as she drove back into Hama from a nearby village where she said she weathered the storm with her parents and five sisters.

A man, Fawwaz, echoed her: “The army came to protect us … Saboteurs came into my neighborhood [Al-Sawaek] and ransacked homes … We are all united, us, the army and Bashar.”
On Tuesday Assad pledged a relentless battle against “terrorist groups” as world pressure on his regime to stop the crackdown mounted.

In 1982, an estimated 20,000 people were killed in Hama when the army put down an Islamist revolt against the rule of Assad’s late father, Hafez.
The president replaced the governor of Hama last month after a record 500,000 protesters rallied in the opposition bastion on July 1 calling for the fall of the regime.