Troops Being Pulled From Some Regions, Says Damascus

The Syrian military says it has begun withdrawing from three areas, reports the Daily Telegraph (U.K.).

Troops are leaving Deraa, Idlib and Zabadani, officials told U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan on Thursday.

Activists report that violence is continuing.

In Douma, a suburb of the capital, "a major operation" is underway, with tanks shelling the area and clashes between troops and army defectors, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human...