A Syrian government forces soldier walks over the rubble of buildings in the former rebel-held town of Zamalka in Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on April 11, 2018. — AFP pic

DUOMA, April 12 — The Russian defence ministry said today that the Syrian regime flag is flying in the town of Douma, which it said meant government forces had taken full control over Eastern Ghouta.

“Today a significant event in the history of Syria took place. The raising of a regime flag over a building in the town of Douma signified control over this town and consequently over Eastern Ghouta as a whole,” Major General Yury Yevtushenko, head of the Russian military’s centre for reconciliation in Syria, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

Russian television showed footage of the Syrian government’s red, white and black flag with two green stars hanging from an unidentified building, while cheering crowds waved flags in among shell-damaged buildings.

The Russian defence ministry also said today that its military police had begun patrolling Douma, after announcing their planned deployment the day before.

“From today, units of the Russian armed forces’ military police are working in the town of Douma. They are a guarantee of the observance of law and order in the town,” the defence ministry said in a statement, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The Russian military said the situation in Douma was normalising and a total of 166,644 people had been evacuated from the city through a humanitarian corridor. — AFP