Most of the refugees who had fled the Syrian town of Khirbat al-Jawz to neighboring Turkey have returned to their homes.
Syrian refugees stand in front of their tents in a camp in the Turkish border town of Yayladagi in Hatay province, June 28, 2011.
According to locals, the refugees, who were displaced by fierce clashes between Syrian security forces and armed men blamed for the recent unrest in the country, now say security has been restored in the region, a Press TV correspondent reported on Thursday.
Earlier, Turkish officials said the number of Syrians taking refuge in tent cities in Turkey had significantly decreased.
In recent weeks, thousands of refugees living in villages near the border had crossed into Turkey to seek shelter following the launch of an operation by security forces in border cities and villages to hunt down armed gangs.
Rights groups say more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in the country since protests erupted in mid-March.
On May 31, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a general amnesty for all political prisoners, with rights activists in Syria confirming the release of hundreds of detainees.
Despite the freeing of political prisoners, and the president's other assurances to implement reforms, protests continued -- drawing at times similar rallies in response from Assad's supporters.
Earlier in June, the Syrian head of state offered a national dialogue to end the unrest, calling on the authorities, intellectuals and political personalities to discuss at a July 10 meeting amendments to the country's constitution, especially Clause 8, which states that the governing Ba'ath party is the sole leader of both the state and society.
Syrian opposition accuses the country's security forces of being behind the killings. But the Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, which has also left scores of security and army forces dead.
Damascus claims that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country.
Earlier, Turkish officials said the number of Syrians taking refuge in tent cities in Turkey had significantly decreased.
In recent weeks, thousands of refugees living in villages near the border had crossed into Turkey to seek shelter following the launch of an operation by security forces in border cities and villages to hunt down armed gangs.
Rights groups say more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in the country since protests erupted in mid-March.
On May 31, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a general amnesty for all political prisoners, with rights activists in Syria confirming the release of hundreds of detainees.
Despite the freeing of political prisoners, and the president's other assurances to implement reforms, protests continued -- drawing at times similar rallies in response from Assad's supporters.
Earlier in June, the Syrian head of state offered a national dialogue to end the unrest, calling on the authorities, intellectuals and political personalities to discuss at a July 10 meeting amendments to the country's constitution, especially Clause 8, which states that the governing Ba'ath party is the sole leader of both the state and society.
Syrian opposition accuses the country's security forces of being behind the killings. But the Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, which has also left scores of security and army forces dead.
Damascus claims that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country.
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