Over 800 militants lay down arms in Syria's Daraa Province - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax-AVN) - More than 800 members of armed groups in Syria's Daraa Province have laid down their arms and have returned to a peaceful life, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.
A meeting between the heads of Daraa Province and residents from the localities of Etbaa, al-Samein, Mesmia, Nava, Saida and Nahta was held with Russian representatives' mediation, the ministry said, adding that more than 1,000 people took part in it.
"As a result of this event, 842 members of the groups Jaysh al-Islam, the Free Syrian Army and the al-Yarmouk Brigade signed statements on abandoning the armed fight and returning to a peaceful life," the ministry said in its daily bulletin published on its website.
"The meeting took place, even despite attempts by radical groups to disrupt this event. A number of local residents were beaten up by militants en route to the meeting venue," according to the bulletin.
In addition to that, former Syrian army colonel Zaidan al-Nserat, one of the initiators of this meeting, was taken hostage by militants, the Defense Ministry said.