First batch of Thais in Syria arrives home

BANGKOK, July 30 (TNA) - The first batch of Thai people opting to leave violence-plagued Syria has now returned home safely; while the rest will arrive home by early next month. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thani Thongphakdi told reporters that the first batch of 10 Thai nationals, out of a total of 22 Thai people who earlier asked for leaving the troubled Middle East country, arrived home, from Dubai, Monday morning. Thani, who is also director-general of the ministry's Department of Information, said that the second batch of five Thai nationals in Syria is scheduled to fly home Tuesday, one day before the third batch of the remaining seven Thais. Political violence in Syria has persisted, as the Syrian government has sent thousands of troops to Aleppo since last week to fight with rebel forces, engulfing the Syrian largest city with total warfare, prompting the 22 Thai nationals, most of whom are students, to decide to leave the unrest-ridden nation. (TNA)