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Syria conflict: Aleppo 'humanitarian pause' begins Syria conflict: Aleppo 'humanitarian pause' begins
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
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.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.
Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday.Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday.
Rebels have rejected the plan and there are reports of clashes at one of the corridors out of the east.Rebels have rejected the plan and there are reports of clashes at one of the corridors out of the east.
Opposition sources say few civilians have yet been evacuated.
A correspondent in Aleppo for Orient News, a Dubai-based pro-opposition TV channel, said he and his crew had visited the two crossings intended for evacuation, but only a few civilians had left at the very start of the ceasefire.
Ammar Jaber accused Syrian government forces of targeting the corridors with sniper and rocket fire. He said "fierce clashes" were ongoing and 15 people had come under sniper fire.
And a teacher in Aleppo, Wissam Zarqa, told the BBC: "To my knowledge, none could leave."
Last month, Syrian government forces encircled the eastern section 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 250,000 civilians have been trapped by the fighting.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 said 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, an accusation rejected by Russia.
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". Turkish strike
Russia has rejected the accusation as "rhetoric" that does not take into account the realities in Syria. In other developments, the Turkish military says its jets have attacked the Kurdish YPG militia north of Aleppo, killing up to 200 fighters.
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. But a senior Kurdish commander, Mahmoud Barkhadan, told the Associated Press news agency that no more than 10 of his fighters had died.
The Kurdish YPG is supported by the US in their fight against so-called Islamic State but Turkey regards them as terrorists. The UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that at least 11 people had been killed, with 24 reported injuries. The group compiles information from a network of contacts on the ground.
'Impossible task' The YPG is supported by the US in its fight against so-called Islamic State, but Turkey regards it as a terrorist organisation.
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. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this week the pause in the bombing would help "guarantee" the safety of six corridors through which civilians could leave.
Rebel fighters have been offered a chance to leave with their weapons via two corridors.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. Jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as al-Nusra Front until it broke formal ties with al-Qaeda in July, has vowed to fight on.
However, Syria's political opposition says that is a virtually impossible task, reports the BBC's James Longman in Beirut. "We choose not to give up our people," it said.
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.
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."
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 regards Jabhat Fateh al-Sham as a terrorist organisation, says the group has 900 fighters inside Aleppo, out of a maximum of 8,000 rebels in total.