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Syria conflict: Russia's Aleppo 'humanitarian pause' takes effect Syria conflict: Aleppo 'humanitarian pause' begins
(about 2 hours later)
A "humanitarian pause" announced by Russia has formally come into effect in the Syrian city of Aleppo to allow civilians and rebels leave the city. A "humanitarian pause" in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo - part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave - has come into effect.
Moscow earlier said air strikes by Russia and Syria's government had been halted two days ahead of schedule. The unilateral truce, announced by Russia, will last until at least 19:00 (16:00 GMT). Eight exit corridors have been designated from the east.
It also extended the pause by three hours, and suggested it could prolong the measure further. Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday.
But a powerful jihadist group has refused to leave besieged rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo. Rebels have rejected the plan and there are reports of clashes at one of the corridors out of the east.
Last month, Syrian government forces encircled rebel groups and launched an all-out assault backed by Russia. Last month, Syrian government forces encircled the eastern section and launched an all-out assault backed by Russia.
Some 2,700 people have been killed or injured in the bombardment since then, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group. Some 2,700 people have been killed or injured in the bombardment since then, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group. Some 250,000 civilians have been trapped by the fighting.
Western leaders have suggested that Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes. Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes.
French President Francois Hollande repeated the claim at Wednesday's late-night talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. French President Francois Hollande repeated the allegation at talks on Wednesday's with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. Mrs Merkel condemned the strikes as "inhumane".
Ms Merkel condemned the strikes as "inhumane". Russia has rejected the accusation as "rhetoric" that does not take into account the realities in Syria.
Russia rejects the accusations, with President Putin saying the accusations are "rhetoric" that do not take into account the realities in Syria. In other developments, the Turkish military says its jets have attacked a Kurdish militia north of Aleppo, killing up to 200 fighters. The casualty figure has not been confirmed.
The "humanitarian pause" formally started at 08:00 local time on Thursday (05:00 GMT). The Kurdish YPG is supported by the US in their fight against so-called Islamic State but Turkey regards them as terrorists.
Russia's military said the originally proposed eight-hour pause would now be extended by three hours until 19:00.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this week the measure would help "guarantee" the safety of six corridors through which civilians and could leave, and sick and injured people could be evacuated.
At the Berlin talks, President Putin suggested he was prepared to extend the pause in air strikes further.
'Impossible task''Impossible task'
Rebel fighters have been offered a chance to leave with their weapons via two special corridors. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this week the measure would help "guarantee" the safety of six corridors through which civilians could leave, and sick and injured people could be evacuated.
Rebel fighters have been offered a chance to leave with their weapons via two corridors.
Mr Shoigu also announced that military experts from Russia and countries who support the opposition - including the US, Turkey and Qatar - would hold talks to try to separate "terrorists" from "moderate" rebels.Mr Shoigu also announced that military experts from Russia and countries who support the opposition - including the US, Turkey and Qatar - would hold talks to try to separate "terrorists" from "moderate" rebels.
However, Syria's political opposition says that is a virtually impossible task, reports the BBC's James Longman in Beirut.However, Syria's political opposition says that is a virtually impossible task, reports the BBC's James Longman in Beirut.
Jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as al-Nusra Front until it broke formal ties with al-Qaeda in July, has rejected the Russian offer to leave the city, vowing to fight on.Jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as al-Nusra Front until it broke formal ties with al-Qaeda in July, has rejected the Russian offer to leave the city, vowing to fight on.
A statement by the group sent to the BBC pointed to similar initiatives in the central city of Homs in 2014 and the Damascus suburb of Darayya in August, where evacuations took place after years of siege and bombardment by President Bashar al-Assad's forces.A statement by the group sent to the BBC pointed to similar initiatives in the central city of Homs in 2014 and the Damascus suburb of Darayya in August, where evacuations took place after years of siege and bombardment by President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
It was "clear", the statement said, that Russia wanted to "cleanse" areas of Sunni Muslims - who form the majority in Syria and dominate the opposition to Mr Assad, a member of the Shia Alawite sect - and to "differentiate" between rebel factions in order to weaken them.It was "clear", the statement said, that Russia wanted to "cleanse" areas of Sunni Muslims - who form the majority in Syria and dominate the opposition to Mr Assad, a member of the Shia Alawite sect - and to "differentiate" between rebel factions in order to weaken them.
"We choose not to give up our people," the statement said. "We will not betray their blood and we will continue our jihad until we remove the regime and any plan against that is rejected.""We choose not to give up our people," the statement said. "We will not betray their blood and we will continue our jihad until we remove the regime and any plan against that is rejected."
Mainstream rebel factions have also dismissed Russia's proposal as a gimmick.Mainstream rebel factions have also dismissed Russia's proposal as a gimmick.
The UN, which has designated Jabhat Fateh al-Sham a terrorist organisation, says there are no more than 900 fighters from the group inside Aleppo, out of a maximum of 8,000 rebels in total.The UN, which has designated Jabhat Fateh al-Sham a terrorist organisation, says there are no more than 900 fighters from the group inside Aleppo, out of a maximum of 8,000 rebels in total.