Syrian forces take control of Deir ez-Zor under control and free general

The Syrian forces have pushed militants of the so-called Free Syrian Army out of Deir ez-Zor in the north-eastern part of the country, RIA Novosti reports.

The fight for the city lasted 2 weeks. Tanks and armored vehicles entered the city from the north and moved south-east.

Syrian forces and the militants exchanged military prisoners. An Army General Khalil Odeh, who had been captured on the outskirts of Damascus last week, has been released in exchange for several prisoners and 14 bodies of militants.

Anti-governmental protests in Syria have been ongoing for over a year. According to the UN, over 8,000 people have died. The Syrian authorities say that over 2,000 servicemen and police officers died in clashes with well-trained militants.