Fri Oct 21, 2016 07:41:32
The Syrian military said on Thursday (October 20) a unilateral ceasefire backed by Russia had come into force to allow people to leave besieged eastern Aleppo, a move rejected by rebels who say they are preparing a counter-offensive to break the blockade.
State media earlier said the army had opened exit corridors in two designated areas in the Bustan al Qasr quarter and near the Castello road in northern Aleppo city.
Waiting buses were shown on state television.
Drone footage obtained by Reuters along with Reuters still photographs showed buses parked outside the municipal stadium in the government-controlled area of al-Masharqa, Aleppo, as they waited to evacuate people wishing to leave besieged eastern Aleppo.
Other clips showed road separating Aleppo’s government-controlled areas from the rebel-held ones and a mosque where forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad are stationed in al-Masharqa.
Russia has told the United Nations it will stop bombing eastern Aleppo for 11 hours a day for four days, but that is not enough to trigger a wider ceasefire deal under which militants would leave the Syrian warzone, the UN said on Thursday.
Russia did not announce the four days of pauses. But its defense ministry said President Vladimir Putin had ordered the first 11-hour pause, which was due to expire on Thursday afternoon, to be extended for a further 24 hours.
S/SH 11
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