Former Syrian army soldiers line up to reconcile status with new government

Hundreds of Syrian soldiers and officers lined up to reconcile their status on Wednesday, the first day of the new year, outside a reconciliation center in Homs in central Syria.

Former soldiers were aiming to register their details with the new interim government so they could get new identity cards that would allow them to live and move freely in Syria.

Former soldiers entering the center filled out an application form, received an application number and posed for a photograph.

They received a receipt that will allow them to receive a temporary ID.

The new Syrian interim government gave safety assurances and amnesty to soldiers and police officers who hadn't taken part in torture and killing during Assad’s rule.

Mazen Jabbouli, an official at the reconciliation center, urged the former soldiers to surrender their weapons saying “we ask themto surrender the weapon to avoid any chaos and to avoid any legal questioning".