Dutch priest killed in Homs rebel enclave: watchdog

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2014 file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad, hold up his portraits as they march during a demonstration is solidarity with government forces, in the al-Inshaat neighborhood of Homs, Syria. As the Syrian conflict entered its forth year this month and large parts of the country are either destroyed or under opposition control, Syrian officials say the presidential elections will be held on time later this year.The opposition rejects such a move saying after the death of more than 140,000 people and millions turned to refugees or displaced, Assad should step down rather than run again. (AP Photo/SANA, File)

A Dutch priest who had insisted on staying in a rebel—held enclave in the central Syrian city of Homs was killed by an unknown gunman Monday, an opposition watchdog said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Jesuit Father Frans van der Lugt had refused to leave the besieged Old City of Homs as long as Christian parishioners remained there.

In February, United Nations and Red Crescent workers evacuated more than 1,300 civilians from the Old City during a temporary truce that accompanied peace talks in Geneva between government and opposition representatives.

Most of the strategic city, an early stronghold of the uprising against President Bashar al—Assad, was recaptured by government forces in mid—2012, leaving up to 3,000 civilians holed up alongside fighters in the remaining rebel enclaves.