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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. | 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. | The UN said the "deliberate" targeting of such facilities "could amount to war crimes", according to Reuters. |
| Russia has been accused, by Turkey among others, of being responsible for the attacks. | |
| Meanwhile, a Turkish official on Tuesday said Turkey 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 hit 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 Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which called the attack a "deliberate" strike. | |
| Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, told Reuters "either the [Syrian] government or Russia" was responsible. | |
| But Mr Peskov told the BBC that the only proof Russia would accept from the ground "comes from the Syrian authorities". He said their evidence "shows the opposite". | |
| The Syrian ambassador to Moscow, Riad Haddad, previously said the US was to blame, a claim the Pentagon dismissed as "patently false". | |
| 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 Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Tuesday, and was planning to meet him again later in the day. | |
| They were due to discuss among other things one of the key priorities of the truce - "unhindered humanitarian access to all besieged areas". There is no word yet on when aid convoys might reach those 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. | 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?" |
| Syrian government forces - backed by Russian air power - are reportedly continuing to make advances around the northern city of Aleppo, capturing the villages of Ahras and Misqan on Tuesday. | |
| Separately, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were reported to have captured Tal Rifaat, a key town in Aleppo province, and had "encircled" armed Islamist militants in the town of Mari. | |
| 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. | 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? |