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| Syria conflict: Powers divided over ceasefire | Syria conflict: Powers divided over ceasefire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US push for an immediate ceasefire in Syria has run into Russian opposition ahead of talks aimed at reviving peace negotiations on the conflict. | A US push for an immediate ceasefire in Syria has run into Russian opposition ahead of talks aimed at reviving peace negotiations on the conflict. |
| Russia proposed a 1 March ceasefire, but the US believes Moscow is giving itself and the Syrian regime three weeks to crush rebels, reports quoting Western officials said. | Russia proposed a 1 March ceasefire, but the US believes Moscow is giving itself and the Syrian regime three weeks to crush rebels, reports quoting Western officials said. |
| World powers are meeting in Munich later for talks on the Syria conflict. | World powers are meeting in Munich later for talks on the Syria conflict. |
| Discussions come amid fresh warnings of a worsening humanitarian situation. | Discussions come amid fresh warnings of a worsening humanitarian situation. |
| A surge in fighting in Syria's Aleppo province has displaced about 50,000 people, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned - adding that supply routes for aid had been cut, putting civilians under "enormous pressure". | A surge in fighting in Syria's Aleppo province has displaced about 50,000 people, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned - adding that supply routes for aid had been cut, putting civilians under "enormous pressure". |
| Meanwhile, Kurdish fighters, reportedly backed by Russian air strikes, have driven Islamist insurgents from a former Syrian military air base north of Aleppo, monitors said. | |
| Russian aircraft had carried out at least 30 raids against the remnants of the Islamist force and Kurdish militia had captured most of the Menagh base, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | Russian aircraft had carried out at least 30 raids against the remnants of the Islamist force and Kurdish militia had captured most of the Menagh base, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. |
| Reports quoting the Russia defence ministry say Russian planes have carried out 510 military sorties in Syria in the last week. | Reports quoting the Russia defence ministry say Russian planes have carried out 510 military sorties in Syria in the last week. |
| Russia says its strikes target what it calls terrorists, but Western powers say they have been used against mainstream opposition groups fighting the Syrian government. | Russia says its strikes target what it calls terrorists, but Western powers say they have been used against mainstream opposition groups fighting the Syrian government. |
| How Putin is succeeding in Syria | How Putin is succeeding in Syria |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used a live television address to warn on Thursday that refugee numbers could increase to 600,000 if air strikes continue. | |
| Attacking the mounting pressure on Turkey to open its border with Syria, he said Turkey would be patient up to a point, but then would be forced to take action. | |
| 'Trying to destroy opposition' | 'Trying to destroy opposition' |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to push for an immediate ceasefire and access for aid workers in Aleppo when Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Iran and other powers meet in Munich later. | US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to push for an immediate ceasefire and access for aid workers in Aleppo when Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Iran and other powers meet in Munich later. |
| But Syrian officials have indicated no plans to ease up the battle to return Aleppo to state control. | But Syrian officials have indicated no plans to ease up the battle to return Aleppo to state control. |
| And Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said his country was not about to be "apologetic" for its actions, accusing other Security Council members of exploiting the humanitarian situation for their own political gain. | And Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said his country was not about to be "apologetic" for its actions, accusing other Security Council members of exploiting the humanitarian situation for their own political gain. |
| Western officials suggest Washington has concerns about Russia's ceasefire proposal and that no agreement has been reached. | Western officials suggest Washington has concerns about Russia's ceasefire proposal and that no agreement has been reached. |
| French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said on Wednesday night: "The (Syrian) regime and its allies cannot pretend they are extending a hand to the opposition while with their other hand they are trying to destroy them." | French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said on Wednesday night: "The (Syrian) regime and its allies cannot pretend they are extending a hand to the opposition while with their other hand they are trying to destroy them." |
| Thinly-stretched camps | Thinly-stretched camps |
| Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has warned that fighting in Azaz, near the Turkish border, has left health systems "close to collapse". | Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has warned that fighting in Azaz, near the Turkish border, has left health systems "close to collapse". |
| New arrivals from the fighting have been forced to seek shelter in already thinly-stretched refugee camps, according to the charity. | New arrivals from the fighting have been forced to seek shelter in already thinly-stretched refugee camps, according to the charity. |
| Turkey is under pressure to open its border to an estimated 30,000 people fleeing the Aleppo fighting. | Turkey is under pressure to open its border to an estimated 30,000 people fleeing the Aleppo fighting. |
| Turkey, which has already taken in more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees over the past five years, said on Tuesday that it had allowed 10,000 people to cross in a "controlled fashion". The UN refugee agency has not confirmed the assertion. | Turkey, which has already taken in more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees over the past five years, said on Tuesday that it had allowed 10,000 people to cross in a "controlled fashion". The UN refugee agency has not confirmed the assertion. |
| Up to 300,000 could be cut off from aid if the offensive by Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias encircles rebel-held eastern Aleppo, the UN has said. | Up to 300,000 could be cut off from aid if the offensive by Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias encircles rebel-held eastern Aleppo, the UN has said. |