MOSCOW: The Russian defense ministry said on Thursday that the Syrian regime flag is flying in the town of Douma, which it said signified government forces have taken full control over Eastern Ghouta, while rebels surrendered heavy arms in Ghouta and leader exits, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. “Today a significant event in the history of Syria took place. The raising of a regime flag over a building in the town of Douma signified control over this town and consequently over Eastern Ghouta as a whole,” Major General Yury Yevtushenko, head of the Russian military’s center for reconciliation in Syria, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. Russian military police have been deployed in the Syrian town of Douma as of Thursday, RIA news agency reported, citing Russia’s defense ministry. “They are the guarantors of law and order in the town,” the ministry was quoted as saying. Earlier on Thursday, Russian news agencies reported that Syrian government forces had taken full control over Douma, which was the last rebel stronghold in the eastern Ghouta enclave outside Damascus. “The raised state flag over a building in the town of Douma has heralded the control over this location and therefore over the whole of eastern Ghouta,” Major General Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian peace and reconciliation center in Syria, was quoted as saying.