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Syria conflict: Russia extends Aleppo ceasefire by 24 hours Syria conflict: Russia extends Aleppo ceasefire by 24 hours
(about 7 hours later)
Russia says it will extend by 24 hours its "humanitarian pause" in air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, taking the break up until Friday afternoon.Russia says it will extend by 24 hours its "humanitarian pause" in air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, taking the break up until Friday afternoon.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said President Vladimir Putin had ordered the extension to 16:00 (13:00 GMT).Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said President Vladimir Putin had ordered the extension to 16:00 (13:00 GMT).
UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said he hoped hundreds of sick and wounded could be evacuated by the deadline.UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said he hoped hundreds of sick and wounded could be evacuated by the deadline.
But rebels have rejected the truce, with reports of continued clashes and few residents heeding calls to leave.But rebels have rejected the truce, with reports of continued clashes and few residents heeding calls to leave.
Mr Egeland said he hoped the first of "several hundred" people most in need of medical help could be brought out on Friday with the help of the World Health Organization and the Red Cross. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said militants were "preventing the evacuation of the population", as he discussed the crisis by phone with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
Russian and Syrian government forces suspended their air strikes on Tuesday to pave the way for the truce, which is aimed at opening up eight exit corridors from the east of the city to allow residents to leave the besieged area.
Rebel fighters have been given a chance to leave via two corridors, provided they leave behind their weapons.
But soon after the truce took effect at 05:00 GMT on Thursday, some of the corridors reportedly came under fire, with opposition and government forces blaming each other.
Mr Egeland, who heads the UN humanitarian taskforce for Syria, said he hoped the first of "several hundred" people most in need of medical help could be brought out on Friday with the help of the World Health Organization and the Red Cross.
"We believe we now have all of the green lights that we need both from the Russians and the government and from the armed opposition groups," he said."We believe we now have all of the green lights that we need both from the Russians and the government and from the armed opposition groups," he said.
But he warned: "This is Syria, so everything can go wrong at every possible opportunity."
Russian and Syrian forces first suspended their air strikes on Tuesday. Russian officials say the pause has opened eight exit corridors from the east of the city to allow civilians and rebel fighers to leave.
But soon after the truce took effect, at 05:00 GMT on Tuesday, some of the corridors were reported to have come under fire, with opposition and government forces blaming each other.
The UN was told Russia would continue the truce for 11 hours a day until Saturday, Mr Egeland said, but Russia has so far only publicly confirmed an extension of 24 hours.
Syria is also offering an eight-hour daily truce, according to state media, but it was not clear how long for.
But the truce was reported to have had little impact on the ground. Ammar Jaber, a correspondent for Orient News, a Dubai-based pro-opposition TV channel, said he had seen just a few civilians leaving at two of the crossings intended for evacuation.But the truce was reported to have had little impact on the ground. Ammar Jaber, a correspondent for Orient News, a Dubai-based pro-opposition TV channel, said he had seen just a few civilians leaving at two of the crossings intended for evacuation.
Mr Jaber said Syrian government forces were targeting the corridors with sniper and rocket fire.Mr Jaber said Syrian government forces were targeting the corridors with sniper and rocket fire.
Syria's state-run news agency has blamed "terrorist groups" for the exchanges of fire, and the Russian state-run broadcaster Rossiya 24 said members of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, a militant group once aligned with al-Qaeda, were preventing people from leaving.
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. About 250,000 civilians who live in Aleppo 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. About 250,000 civilians who live in Aleppo have been trapped by the fighting.
Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia.Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia.
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday his organisation should keep "all options open, including sanctions" when considering Russia's involvement in Syria.
Jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which was known as al-Nusra Front until it broke formal ties with al-Qaeda in July, has vowed to fight on despite Russia's pledge of a truce.Jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which was known as al-Nusra Front until it broke formal ties with al-Qaeda in July, has vowed to fight on despite Russia's pledge of a truce.
Mainstream rebel factions also dismissed Russia's proposal as a gimmick.Mainstream rebel factions also dismissed Russia's proposal as a gimmick.
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.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.