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Russia rejects Syria war crimes claim over hospital attacks | Russia rejects Syria war crimes claim over hospital attacks |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russia says it "categorically rejects" accusations of war crimes over the bombing of hospitals in Syria. | Russia says it "categorically rejects" accusations of war crimes over the bombing of hospitals in Syria. |
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "those who make such statements are not capable of backing them up with proof". | Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "those who make such statements are not capable of backing them up with proof". |
Up to 50 people were killed in missile attacks on at least four hospitals and two schools in rebel-held areas of northern Syria on Monday. | |
The UN said the "deliberate" targeting of such facilities "could amount to war crimes", according to Reuters. | |
Turkey's foreign ministry has blamed Russia for the attacks. | Turkey's foreign ministry has blamed Russia for the attacks. |
A Turkish official on Tuesday said it would back a ground operation in Syria but only "with our international allies. | A Turkish official on Tuesday said it would back a ground operation in Syria but only "with our international allies. |
"There is not going to be a unilateral military operation from Turkey to Syria," the unnamed official told reporters in Istanbul. | "There is not going to be a unilateral military operation from Turkey to Syria," the unnamed official told reporters in Istanbul. |
Ceasefire doubts | Ceasefire doubts |
Monday's strikes struck two hospitals and two schools in Azaz, near the border with Turkey, and at least two hospitals in Maarat al-Numan, further south. | Monday's strikes struck two hospitals and two schools in Azaz, near the border with Turkey, and at least two hospitals in Maarat al-Numan, further south. |
One of the hospitals in Maarat al-Numan was run by Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which called the attack a "deliberate" strike. | One of the hospitals in Maarat al-Numan was run by Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which called the attack a "deliberate" strike. |
The strikes came days after world powers - including Russia - agreed to work towards a selective truce in Syria, due to begin later this week. | The strikes came days after world powers - including Russia - agreed to work towards a selective truce in Syria, due to begin later this week. |
The UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, met Syria's foreign minister on Tuesday to discuss one of the key priorities of the truce - "unhindered humanitarian access to all besieged areas". | |
However, there was no word on when aid convoys might reach besieged areas. | |
Earlier, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cast doubt over the "cessation of hostilities" plan, saying it did not mean all the parties would put down their weapons. | |
"So far they say they want a ceasefire within a week," he said in his first comments of Friday's agreement. "Who is capable of gathering all these conditions and requirements within a week?" | "So far they say they want a ceasefire within a week," he said in his first comments of Friday's agreement. "Who is capable of gathering all these conditions and requirements within a week?" |
Almost five years of civil war in Syria have led to the deaths of more than 250,000 people. More than 11 million people have been displaced. | |
What does the law say about bombing hospitals? | What does the law say about bombing hospitals? |