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Aleppo ceasefire at risk after Russia says all rebels can be eliminated Aleppo ceasefire at risk after Russia says all rebels can be eliminated
(about 1 hour later)
The prospects of an extended humanitarian ceasefire in eastern Aleppo have diminished after Russian diplomats stressed the Syrian government was entitled to eliminate all rebels in the city, and not just the 1,000 jihadi fighters linked to al-Qaida.The prospects of an extended humanitarian ceasefire in eastern Aleppo have diminished after Russian diplomats stressed the Syrian government was entitled to eliminate all rebels in the city, and not just the 1,000 jihadi fighters linked to al-Qaida.
Russia has implemented a unilateral four-day ceasefire to allow humanitarian access, evacuation for the wounded and the safe passage of 1,000 Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters, the rebel group formerly known as al-Nusra, out of the besieged city.Russia has implemented a unilateral four-day ceasefire to allow humanitarian access, evacuation for the wounded and the safe passage of 1,000 Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters, the rebel group formerly known as al-Nusra, out of the besieged city.
The proposal is partly in line with a plan laid out by the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, but neither Russia or Syria will agree to the second half of the plan – allowing the existing eastern Aleppo council to remain in power and halting attacks on non-jihadi fighters.The proposal is partly in line with a plan laid out by the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, but neither Russia or Syria will agree to the second half of the plan – allowing the existing eastern Aleppo council to remain in power and halting attacks on non-jihadi fighters.
Russia believes there as many as 6,000 rebels in eastern Aleppo, and only 1,000 are from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the organisation that has been labelled a terrorist group by Russia and the US. Russia insisted on Friday that all the fighters in eastern Aleppo should be classified as terrorists and must be eradicated. Russia believes there are as many as 6,000 rebels in eastern Aleppo, and only 1,000 are from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the organisation that has been labelled a terrorist group by Russia and the US. Russia insisted on Friday that all the fighters in eastern Aleppo should be classified as terrorists and must be eradicated.
On Thursday, De Mistura had urged Jabhat Fateh al-Sham to leave, but added that there had been no Syrian acceptance of the other element of his package – that the east Aleppo council would remain in political power and other armed opposition forces could stay in the city. The jihadi group has refused to leave.On Thursday, De Mistura had urged Jabhat Fateh al-Sham to leave, but added that there had been no Syrian acceptance of the other element of his package – that the east Aleppo council would remain in political power and other armed opposition forces could stay in the city. The jihadi group has refused to leave.
Russia said that civilians were not leaving the city despite the humanitarian corridor, blaming sniper fire and threats by the opposition. It claimed members of the Ahrar al-Sham group, which is not proscribed by the US, had on Thursday publicly executed 14 local self-government officials who had called on people to leave the city’s eastern districts.Russia said that civilians were not leaving the city despite the humanitarian corridor, blaming sniper fire and threats by the opposition. It claimed members of the Ahrar al-Sham group, which is not proscribed by the US, had on Thursday publicly executed 14 local self-government officials who had called on people to leave the city’s eastern districts.
Moscow also announced it was extending its humanitarian ceasefire for a further 24 hours by allowing a further pause in the bombing from 8am to 7pm on Saturday.Moscow also announced it was extending its humanitarian ceasefire for a further 24 hours by allowing a further pause in the bombing from 8am to 7pm on Saturday.
So far the UN has said it has not been able to go into east Aleppo with supplies due to the lack of security assurances.So far the UN has said it has not been able to go into east Aleppo with supplies due to the lack of security assurances.
The Syrian government has been sending text messages to east Aleppo citizens claiming the rebels will use chemical weapons to defend themselves and calling the fighters cowards because they are hiding behind civilians.The Syrian government has been sending text messages to east Aleppo citizens claiming the rebels will use chemical weapons to defend themselves and calling the fighters cowards because they are hiding behind civilians.
Russia claimed a group of more than 1,200 rebels, including 30 suicide bombers, has been massed for an attack on Aleppo from the south-west.Russia claimed a group of more than 1,200 rebels, including 30 suicide bombers, has been massed for an attack on Aleppo from the south-west.
The militants have tanks, armoured vehicles and 20 pick-up trucks carrying large-calibre machineguns, Russian officials said.The militants have tanks, armoured vehicles and 20 pick-up trucks carrying large-calibre machineguns, Russian officials said.
On the diplomatic track, a UN human rights council meeting in special session in Geneva passed a resolution backing an independent investigation into the bombing of a UN convoy on 19 September and calling for a wider inquiry into human rights abuses in Aleppo.On the diplomatic track, a UN human rights council meeting in special session in Geneva passed a resolution backing an independent investigation into the bombing of a UN convoy on 19 September and calling for a wider inquiry into human rights abuses in Aleppo.
The UK Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood, speaking at the council, said: “The actions of Assad and of Russia are driving radicalisation and fuelling terrorism, not tackling it. Russia: you are making the situation worse, not solving it.”The UK Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood, speaking at the council, said: “The actions of Assad and of Russia are driving radicalisation and fuelling terrorism, not tackling it. Russia: you are making the situation worse, not solving it.”
He told reporters that the Russian pause was “being used simply for them to regroup and further their own stranglehold over Aleppo”.He told reporters that the Russian pause was “being used simply for them to regroup and further their own stranglehold over Aleppo”.
Referring to the airstrikes, he said: “This is shameful and it is not the action or leadership that we expect from a P5 [permanent member of the UN security council] nation.”Referring to the airstrikes, he said: “This is shameful and it is not the action or leadership that we expect from a P5 [permanent member of the UN security council] nation.”
The United Nations’ top human rights official, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, also described the siege and bombing of eastern Aleppo as “crimes of historic proportions” that had caused heavy civilian casualties that amounted to war crimes.The United Nations’ top human rights official, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, also described the siege and bombing of eastern Aleppo as “crimes of historic proportions” that had caused heavy civilian casualties that amounted to war crimes.