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Aleppo battle: Rebel evacuation delayed Aleppo battle: Rebel evacuation delayed
(about 1 hour later)
The planned evacuation of rebel fighters and civilians from devastated eastern Aleppo has been delayed.The planned evacuation of rebel fighters and civilians from devastated eastern Aleppo has been delayed.
Government buses have been brought in but none have left yet, reports say.Government buses have been brought in but none have left yet, reports say.
The Syrian government is said to be demanding the simultaneous evacuation of its own injured fighters and civilians from nearby towns that are encircled by opposition forces.The Syrian government is said to be demanding the simultaneous evacuation of its own injured fighters and civilians from nearby towns that are encircled by opposition forces.
A ceasefire between government troops and the rebels was declared in Aleppo on Tuesday.A ceasefire between government troops and the rebels was declared in Aleppo on Tuesday.
Early on Wednesday, two rebel officials told Reuters news agency that the ceasefire was holding, despite the delay.Early on Wednesday, two rebel officials told Reuters news agency that the ceasefire was holding, despite the delay.
The rebels had been squeezed into ever smaller areas of the city in recent months by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power. Eastern Aleppo has been held by the rebels since 2012. But the rebels had been squeezed into ever smaller areas of the city in recent months by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power.
Under the evacuation deal, brokered by Turkey and Russia, civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo are to be evacuated to rebel-held areas in northern Syria.Under the evacuation deal, brokered by Turkey and Russia, civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo are to be evacuated to rebel-held areas in northern Syria.
News of the deal came as the UN reported summary killings by pro-government forces. Evacuations had been due to start at 05:00 (03:00 GMT), reports said, but several hours later the fleet of government buses had not moved.
The UN says it is "not involved" in the evacuation plans but "stands ready to facilitate the voluntary and safe evacuation of injured, sick and vulnerable civilians from the besieged part of the city".
On Tuesday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura called for immediate access to oversee operations.
News of the evacuation deal came as the UN reported summary killings by pro-government forces.
It said it had reliable evidence that in four areas 82 civilians were killed, adding that many more may have died.It said it had reliable evidence that in four areas 82 civilians were killed, adding that many more may have died.
The UN and the US said the Syrian government as well as Russia and Iran - another key ally of Syrian President Assad - were accountable for any atrocities committed in the city. The UN and the US said the Syrian government as well as Russia and Iran - another key ally of Syrian President Assad - were accountable for any atrocities committed in the city. Syria's government and Russia said the allegations were untrue.
Syria's government and Russia said the allegations were untrue. On Wednesday, in an interview with Russian media, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused the West of double standards.
He said officials and media expressed concern about civilians when the government was advancing in Aleppo, but did not care when Islamist rebels attacked civilians and heritage in Palmyra.
Fighting 'over'
Late on Tuesday, Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told an emergency session of the UN Security Council: "According to the latest information that we received in the last hour, military actions in eastern Aleppo are over."Late on Tuesday, Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told an emergency session of the UN Security Council: "According to the latest information that we received in the last hour, military actions in eastern Aleppo are over."
He earlier said the deal was reached to allow the rebels leave, saying it would take place within hours. He earlier said the deal was reached to allow the rebels to leave.
"The civilians, they can stay, they can go to safe places, they can take advantage of the humanitarian arrangements that are on the ground. Nobody is going to harm the civilians," Mr Churkin said."The civilians, they can stay, they can go to safe places, they can take advantage of the humanitarian arrangements that are on the ground. Nobody is going to harm the civilians," Mr Churkin said.
But the rebels, while confirming the deal, stressed that civilians would also be included in the exodus.But the rebels, while confirming the deal, stressed that civilians would also be included in the exodus.
Syria's state media said on Tuesday the rebels would be evacuated through the Ramouseh crossing in the south, and then to rebel-held areas in Idlib province.Syria's state media said on Tuesday the rebels would be evacuated through the Ramouseh crossing in the south, and then to rebel-held areas in Idlib province.
Extraordinary turnaround: By BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent Jonathan MarcusExtraordinary turnaround: By BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus
The seizure of the eastern part of the city by government forces and the crushing of the rebel enclave there represents a major propaganda victory for the government of President Bashar al-Assad, which now controls virtually all of the major population centres of the country.The seizure of the eastern part of the city by government forces and the crushing of the rebel enclave there represents a major propaganda victory for the government of President Bashar al-Assad, which now controls virtually all of the major population centres of the country.
But Aleppo - the most populous city before the civil war and the country's financial centre - is the biggest prize.But Aleppo - the most populous city before the civil war and the country's financial centre - is the biggest prize.
Its capture represents a victory not just for Mr Assad but also for his Iranian and Russian backers.Its capture represents a victory not just for Mr Assad but also for his Iranian and Russian backers.
Aleppo itself may not matter much on Moscow's strategic chess-board. But the defeat of the rebel opposition there underscores the extraordinary turn-around in President Assad's fortunes.Aleppo itself may not matter much on Moscow's strategic chess-board. But the defeat of the rebel opposition there underscores the extraordinary turn-around in President Assad's fortunes.
Before Russia intervened President Assad was on the ropes, his military power crumbling.Before Russia intervened President Assad was on the ropes, his military power crumbling.
External actors have propped up his government in large part to secure their own strategic aspirations. And these aspirations will play an important part in deciding what comes next.External actors have propped up his government in large part to secure their own strategic aspirations. And these aspirations will play an important part in deciding what comes next.
Aleppo: Key dates in the battleAleppo: Key dates in the battle
Red Cross doctor's heartbreaking letterRed Cross doctor's heartbreaking letter
What is the situation in the rebel areas?What is the situation in the rebel areas?
Before the end to hostilities was announced, the rebels had retreated into just a handful of neighbourhoods.Before the end to hostilities was announced, the rebels had retreated into just a handful of neighbourhoods.
It is hard to know exactly how many people are in the besieged areas, although UN envoy Staffan de Mistura put the figure at about 50,000.It is hard to know exactly how many people are in the besieged areas, although UN envoy Staffan de Mistura put the figure at about 50,000.
He said there were approximately 1,500 rebel fighters, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.He said there were approximately 1,500 rebel fighters, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.
Other local sources say there could be as many as 100,000 people, many of them arriving from areas recently taken by the government.Other local sources say there could be as many as 100,000 people, many of them arriving from areas recently taken by the government.
Ibrahim Abu-Laith, a spokesman for the White Helmets volunteer rescue group, said only one medical point was still working in the besieged areas. There was no first aid equipment left, he added.Ibrahim Abu-Laith, a spokesman for the White Helmets volunteer rescue group, said only one medical point was still working in the besieged areas. There was no first aid equipment left, he added.
He said volunteers were using their hands to pull people out of rubble, but some 70 people were stuck and could not be extracted.He said volunteers were using their hands to pull people out of rubble, but some 70 people were stuck and could not be extracted.
Last messages from Aleppo
Activist Lina Shamy: "Humans all over the world, don't sleep! You can do something, protest now! Stop the genocide".
Bana Alabed, aged 7: "I am talking to the world now live from East #Aleppo. This is my last moment to either live or die."
White Helmets tweet: "All streets & destroyed buildings are full with dead bodies. It's hell."
Abdul Kafi Alhamado, teacher: "Some people are under the rubble, no-one can help them. They just leave them under the rubble until they die - these houses as their graves."
The 'final goodbyes' from Aleppo
What does this mean for the civil war?What does this mean for the civil war?
This is a huge blow to the armed opposition, and a major victory for the Russians, the Iranians, Lebanon's Hezbollah and some Iraqi Shia militias.This is a huge blow to the armed opposition, and a major victory for the Russians, the Iranians, Lebanon's Hezbollah and some Iraqi Shia militias.
But the rebels still control quite large areas, as do the jihadists of so-called Islamic State. So in terms of Syria itself the war continues.But the rebels still control quite large areas, as do the jihadists of so-called Islamic State. So in terms of Syria itself the war continues.
The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says it will be a different type of war - less rebels trying to hold territory and create their own entity, more hit-and-run and insurgency.The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says it will be a different type of war - less rebels trying to hold territory and create their own entity, more hit-and-run and insurgency.
How did Aleppo reach this point?How did Aleppo reach this point?
For much of the past four years, Aleppo has been divided roughly in two, with the government controlling the western half and rebels the east.For much of the past four years, Aleppo has been divided roughly in two, with the government controlling the western half and rebels the east.
Syrian troops finally broke the deadlock with the help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian air strikes, reinstating a siege on the east in early September and launching an all-out assault weeks later.Syrian troops finally broke the deadlock with the help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian air strikes, reinstating a siege on the east in early September and launching an all-out assault weeks later.