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Syria war: Russia rejects US calls to halt bombing eastern Aleppo | Syria war: Russia rejects US calls to halt bombing eastern Aleppo |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Russia has said it will carry on bombing rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria, defying US demands to stop. | Russia has said it will carry on bombing rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria, defying US demands to stop. |
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the Russian air force would continue its support of the Syrian armed forces. | Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the Russian air force would continue its support of the Syrian armed forces. |
He also urged Washington to deliver on a pledge to separate moderate Syrian opposition fighters from "terrorists". | He also urged Washington to deliver on a pledge to separate moderate Syrian opposition fighters from "terrorists". |
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned the US was "on the verge" of suspending talks with Russia over Syria. | |
"It's irrational, in the context of the kind of bombing taking place, to be sitting there, trying to take things seriously," he told a conference in Washington. | |
"There is no notion or indication of seriousness of purpose with what is taking place right now." | |
The US and Russia have been negotiating for months to try to secure a cessation of hostilities but the latest truce collapsed last week after only a few days and attacks on eastern Aleppo have since intensified. | |
The US warned on Wednesday it would end talks on military co-operation unless Moscow stopped the bombing. | |
The recent cessation deal was meant to lead to joint Russian-US air strikes on so-called Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra Front). | The recent cessation deal was meant to lead to joint Russian-US air strikes on so-called Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra Front). |
However Russia has complained the US has not done enough to separate the more moderate rebel groups, which it backs, from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. Many of these groups have formed a strategic alliance with the more powerful Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and fight alongside it. | |
Despite growing tensions between the two nations, Mr Peskov said Russia remains interested in pursuing talks with the US in an effort to resolve the crisis in Syria. | Despite growing tensions between the two nations, Mr Peskov said Russia remains interested in pursuing talks with the US in an effort to resolve the crisis in Syria. |
His comments echo a statement from Moscow, which insisted it would send diplomats to Geneva to discuss ways of normalising the situation with the US. | His comments echo a statement from Moscow, which insisted it would send diplomats to Geneva to discuss ways of normalising the situation with the US. |
US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that national security agencies were reviewing all options to try to end the Syrian civil war. | US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that national security agencies were reviewing all options to try to end the Syrian civil war. |
He said President Barack Obama had asked "all of the agencies to put forward options, some familiar, some new, that we are very actively reviewing". | He said President Barack Obama had asked "all of the agencies to put forward options, some familiar, some new, that we are very actively reviewing". |
"When we are able to work through these in the days ahead we'll have an opportunity to come back and talk about them in detail," he said. | "When we are able to work through these in the days ahead we'll have an opportunity to come back and talk about them in detail," he said. |
Meanwhile Turkey has said it will work with Russia on putting in place another ceasefire after the previous agreement collapsed. | Meanwhile Turkey has said it will work with Russia on putting in place another ceasefire after the previous agreement collapsed. |
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara "we are more than ready" but emphasised that nations have to try harder to find a political resolution in order for an agreement to be effective. | Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara "we are more than ready" but emphasised that nations have to try harder to find a political resolution in order for an agreement to be effective. |
Aleppo has come under heavy aerial bombardment since the partial truce deal disintegrated a week ago. | Aleppo has come under heavy aerial bombardment since the partial truce deal disintegrated a week ago. |
Some 250,000 people are trapped in the east in appalling conditions, under siege from Russian-backed Syrian forces. | Some 250,000 people are trapped in the east in appalling conditions, under siege from Russian-backed Syrian forces. |
UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien has warned that Aleppo is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. | UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien has warned that Aleppo is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. |
Mr O'Brien, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council Aleppo had descended into a "merciless abyss of humanitarian catastrophe unlike any we have witnessed in Syria". | Mr O'Brien, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council Aleppo had descended into a "merciless abyss of humanitarian catastrophe unlike any we have witnessed in Syria". |
The US has accused Russia of taking part in strikes on civilian targets and possibly committing war crimes - charges Russia has strongly denied. | The US has accused Russia of taking part in strikes on civilian targets and possibly committing war crimes - charges Russia has strongly denied. |