Army quits Hama after 10-day raid

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 saw.

Forty personnel carriers decked with Syrian flags rolled out of Hama with soldiers chanting slogans praising embattled President Bashar Al Assad, said the journalist who visited the city on a tour organised 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."

Meanwhile, Turkey's ambassador to Damascus visited Hama, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

"Our ambassador went to Hama and said that the tanks, security forces had started to leave Hama. This is highly important to show that our initiatives had positive results," Erdogan said in televised remarks, addressing his party members in Ankara.

"We hope that all these will be completed within a 10 to 15 day period," he added.

Troops backed by tanks stormed Hama on July 31, on the eve of the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, to crush dissent.

Activists said at least 140 people were killed that day, including 100 in Hama, in the bloodiest day since Assad's regime launched its deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests that have swept the country since mid-March.

The authorities on 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 neighbourhood 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, and residents, happy to be rid of the armed gangs who tried to sow discord among the population, have returned home."

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Syria Tuesday and held talks with Assad about ways of ending the bloodshed and implementing democratic reforms.

"We hope that some measures will be taken in the coming days to end the bloodshed and open the way for a process of political reform," Davutoglu had said at Ankara airport on his return.

Following the recent crackdown in Hama, Erdogan announced Sunday that Davutoglu would convey to the Damascus regime that Ankara was "at the end of its patience" in the face of such violent repression by Syrian forces.

In Hama, journalists also saw that graffiti scrawled on walls had been scrubbed off.

Journalists 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 centre.

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 the city journalists saw workers dismantling barricades.

Residents blamed the unidentified "saboteurs" for wreaking havoc on Hama 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.

"Before the saboteurs erected barricades in the city, and there was always gunfire," said Khadija.

A man, Fawwaz, echoed her and said: "The army came to protect us."

"Saboteurs came into my neighbourhood (Al Sawaek) and ransacked homes," he said. "We are all united, us, the army and Bashar," he added.

On Tuesday Assad pledged a relentless battle against "terrorist groups" as world pressure on his regime to stop the crackdown mounted, with Arab states joining the fray and neighbours like Turkey and Iraq piling on the pressure.

Hama, a city with a bloody past, has been at the forefront of the uprising against Assad and his Baath party which has ruled Syria for nearly 50 years.

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.

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