Finding a community of forty houses, they thought it was the capital, but it was a small outlying village of a much larger culture.

By 6.30am they would be in a pick-up truck, driving to outlying villages.

Thousands converged on the city from outlying villages in an attempt to break the army blockade.

Numerous former outlying villages and towns have been enveloped by the urban and suburbs.

Roads and bridges connecting the city to the outlying villages were inaccessible, as well as electricity, water and telephone lines were cut.