This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37869457

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Syria: 'Final truce chance' for Aleppo rebels begins Syria conflict: End of Aleppo ceasefire looms
(about 9 hours later)
Russian and Syrian government forces have begun a 10-hour ceasefire in the city of Aleppo to allow rebels and civilians to leave besieged areas. A temporary ceasefire by Russian and Syrian government forces in Aleppo, described by Russia as the final chance for rebels to leave besieged areas, is nearing its end.
Russia has said this pause will be the last chance for rebels to leave eastern districts in safety. Rebels have rejected the 10-hour pause and continued a counter-offensive aimed at breaking the siege. No-one appears to have left.
The rebels have rejected the offer and have been continuing a counter-offensive aimed at breaking the siege. Russia said two of its soldiers were wounded by rebel shelling.
About 250,000 people remain trapped and are enduring food and medical shortages as well as intensive bombing. About 250,000 people are trapped, enduring food and medical shortages.
A BBC correspondent in Aleppo says the battle in the city is escalating, with the government determined to recapture districts still outside their control while the rebel forces do not want to lose their last remaining foothold in a major Syrian city. Text messages sent to residents by the Syrian government urged civilians to leave eastern Aleppo, telling the opposition to "stop resisting or die". It added that they would "destroy group leaders".
The so-called "humanitarian pause" is the second time Russia and the Syrian government have said passages are open for evacuations, but their last unilateral ceasefire in October ended with almost no-one leaving over three days. Rebels can leave unharmed and with their weapons using two specially created corridors between 09:00 and 19:00 (07:00 and 17:00 GMT), the Russian defence ministry said. Six other routes were to be opened for civilians.
Rebels can leave unharmed and with their weapons using two specially created corridors between 09:00 and 19:00 (06:00 and 16:00 GMT), the Russian defence ministry said. Six other routes were to be opened for civilians. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, no-one had left the areas in the first hours of the so-called "humanitarian pause".
Russian and Syrian warplanes are expected to resume attacks on rebel areas when the truce ends. Zakaria Malahifji, a Turkey-based official from the politburo of the Fastaqim group, which is present in Aleppo, said: "Nobody will leave and the Russians will escalate. The Russians declared this."
Rebel attacks Syrian state media accused the opposition of preventing residents from fleeing. It reported that rebels fired rockets at one of the evacuation passages.
On Thursday rebels in east Aleppo increased their attacks on western government-held areas of the city. And Russia's defence ministry said two soldiers who were monitoring the ceasefire were lightly wounded by shelling from home-made gas canister bombs and mortars that hit the western part of the key Castello road route.
State media said at least 12 people had died and 200 were injured in rocket fire, gunfire and car bombs. Rebels in eastern Aleppo had increased their attacks on western government-held areas of the city on Thursday. At least 12 people had died and 200 were injured in rocket fire, gunfire and car bombs, state media reported.
Government forces have been besieging the rebel-held east almost continually since July.Government forces have been besieging the rebel-held east almost continually since July.
Meanwhile 300km (185 miles) to the north, a Russian helicopter was damaged by mortar fire while delivering aid, near Palmyra in Homs province, the country's military said. This is the second time Russia and the Syrian government have said passages are open for evacuations, but their last unilateral ceasefire in October ended with almost no-one leaving over three days.
The UN said it could not use this temporary ceasefire to deliver aid to the besieged areas because it did not have the needed security guarantees.
And a spokeswoman for UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said the organisation was also against the evacuation of civilians unless it was voluntary.
"Our position remains the call for a complete nationwide cessation of hostilities but of course anything that contributes to saving lives, we welcome it," Jessy Chahine-Mankouche said.
And Save the Children warned that injured children in eastern Aleppo would remain trapped in the besieged city, without access to vital medical treatment and unable to leave, as the corridors failed to offer a viable solution for civilians in need.
Russian and Syrian warplanes are expected to resume attacks on rebel areas when the truce ends.
Meanwhile, a Russian helicopter was damaged by mortar fire while delivering aid, near Palmyra in Homs province, the country's military said.
It could not fly back to base but the crew were rescued and are safe.It could not fly back to base but the crew were rescued and are safe.
The so-called Islamic State group may be behind the attack. It claimed to have shot down a Russian attack helicopter in Homs province in a strike which it said killed the crew.The so-called Islamic State group may be behind the attack. It claimed to have shot down a Russian attack helicopter in Homs province in a strike which it said killed the crew.