Lebanon begins ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees

Rights groups are concerned the scheme may contain elements of coercion and result in reprisals. 

Hundreds of Syrian refugees have left the remote Lebanese mountain town of Arsal in a convoy of trucks headed for the northern border on the first day of a controversial repatriation scheme.

Lebanese authorities say 751 Syrian refugees began returning to Syria on Wednesday under a voluntary programme coordinated by Lebanon’s General Security, the agency responsible for safeguarding the…