Syrian rebels said on Sunday they have begun entering the capital, Damascus, without any sign of army deployments.

"We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners, releasing their chains, and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison," they added.

Sednaya is a large military prison on the outskirts of Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands of people.

Syrian rebels announced they had gained full control of the key city of Homs early on Sunday after just one day of fighting, leaving President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule hanging by a thread as insurgents marched on Damascus.