Darayya siege: Residents and fighters ready to evacuate Syrian town

A deal has been reached to allow rebel fighters and civilians to leave the Syrian town of Darayya, which has been under government siege since 2012.  

The evacuation of the town, near the capital Damascus, is expected to begin today.  

Syrian Red Crescent vehicles are poised to enter the town.  

Residents have faced near-constant bombardment and shortages of food, water and power. 
 
Civilians received their first supplies in four years only in June. 
 
It comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry hold talks on Syria with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva. 
  
They are meeting in a bid to broker a temporary ceasefire in the city of Aleppo, where fighting between government and rebel forces has escalated in recent weeks, leaving hundreds dead. 

BBC