Residents in Syria's Raqqa say life has become difficult days after rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad tool control of the city which lies on the banks of the Euphrates River.
Syrian warplanes bombarded the city of Raqqa on Tuesday (March 5), a day after it was captured by rebel fighters, opposition campaigners and a resident said.
One resident said many bakeries are shut, and there is no access to diesel fuel, and that some residents have packed up and left.
On March 4, rebels overran most government forces' positions inside the city and were looking to seize control of most of the province of Raqqa which is located between the provinces of Aleppo in the west and Deir al-Zor in the east.
Before the latest fighting, many Syrians displaced by war in other parts of the country sought refuge in Raqqa.
But many of them fled recently as government forces continued to pound the city with war planes and artillery.
Amateur video posted on social media websites showed rebels destroying a statue of late President Hafez al-Assad, the president's father, in the city's main square on March 4. Reuters cannot independently verify the content of the video.
One rebel fighter said some Assad positions remained but the fighters were determined to ''clear them''.
''Hopefully, it will get better. There are a few spots left of the Assad groups and we will clear them, God willing. And our fighters are strong...God willing,'' said the fighter, speaking with a view of an almost-empty square in Raqqa behind him.
If the opposition maintains control of Raqqa, it would be the first major city to be captured since the revolt erupted against four decades of Assad family rule in March 2011.
One resident said despite the difficult humanitarian situation, people feel secure.
''People are relieved, to be honest. I am not with or against but now I see people feel relieved, they feel secure. The city was liberated and the fear is gone..,'' he said as he stood next to his son.
All of Raqqa except a military intelligence compound fell and hundreds of Assad's forces fled east in the direction of Iraq and west to Aleppo, according to local sources.
The rebels have said they arrested the governor and Baath Party head, at least one intelligence chief and the provincial police commander.
The United Nations says around 70,000 people have been killed in Syria in the past two years. An uprising that began with mainly peaceful protests against Assad in March 2011 has spiraled into an increasingly sectarian armed conflict.
09 Mar, 2013
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Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2013/03/08/Syrian-city-struggles-after-rebel-capture.html
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