Syrian exiles are not yet flooding back into their country, according to figures released on Friday by the UN refugee agency.

UNHCR representative, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa reported to Geneva from Damascus that around 3,000 returnees had crossed the Turkish border since last weekend, when the Bashar al-Assad regime fell.

He said 2,000 returnees had crossed the border from Lebanon the previous day.

According to Vargas, many Syrian exiles were delaying their return, pointing to the fact that law and order had not yet been restored in the country.

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He added that returnees wanted a peaceful political transition and reconciliation after the years of civil war and international aid for their country to get back on its feet.

The UNHCR said that around 4.8 million live in exile in neighbouring countries and North African states.

“They should be allowed to decide when they want to go back in their own time without any pressure,” UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said in Geneva.