Under the truce in Moadamiyet al-Sham, the Syrian official flag was raised over the area on Wednesday and will be flown for 72 hours, in exchange for much-needed food supplies for thousands of trapped civilians, said Abu Malek of the town's Local Council.

"A truce came into force on Wednesday, and the people have accepted as a gesture of goodwill to fly the government flag over the town's water towers," Abu Malek said via the Internet.

"Food should be allowed into the town on Thursday. If this goes well, we will hand over the heavy weapons, but the army will not enter the town," he added.

"Then in the next phase, people who were displaced should be allowed to return home, without being arrested, and the checkpoints around the city must be removed," said Abu Malek.

A source close to the Syrian government confirmed that there had been a truce agreement, but said the army would enter into the town in order to ensure all the weapons had been handed over.

According to Abu Malek, Moadamiyet al-Sham residents are divided over the agreement.

Some believe "it is more important to feed the civilian women and children," while another, more radical section of the opposition, does not want to be perceived as giving in, he said.

In October, some 3,800 civilians were evacuated from Moadamiyet al-Sham by the Red Crescent in coordination with the Syrian authorities.

According to aSyrian human rights group, Moadamiyet al-Sham was originally home to some 15,000 people.

NTJ/NJF