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Syria Aleppo: Evacuation grinds to a halt Syria Aleppo: Evacuation grinds to a halt
(about 3 hours later)
The evacuation of east Aleppo has been halted, with Syrian rebels accused of failing to respect a deal to lift their own siege of two pro-government towns.The evacuation of east Aleppo has been halted, with Syrian rebels accused of failing to respect a deal to lift their own siege of two pro-government towns.
At least 6,000 civilians and rebels are said to have left Aleppo, Syria's largest city, since Thursday after the government recaptured most of the city.At least 6,000 civilians and rebels are said to have left Aleppo, Syria's largest city, since Thursday after the government recaptured most of the city.
But the UN believes that some 50,000 people are still trapped there. Among the evacuees are at least 2,700 children, a UN agency reports.
Under a deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, the rebels were meant to ease their siege of towns in Idlib province. But the UN believes tens of thousands of people remain trapped in east Aleppo and warns children there are in danger.
Reports suggest the biggest rebel group in Idlib, the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham jihadists formerly known as the Nusra Front, have now agreed to allow injured people to leave the towns, Foua and Kefraya, which are home to some 20,000 people. "Aleppo is now a synonym for hell," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York, urging a resumption of the evacuation.
France is calling on the UN Security Council to ensure the operation is co-ordinated by international observers, with humanitarian aid allowed into the city and hospitals given protection.
Four years of vicious fighting in eastern Aleppo left thousands dead, destroyed hospitals and wiped out food supplies.Four years of vicious fighting in eastern Aleppo left thousands dead, destroyed hospitals and wiped out food supplies.
Those being evacuated were taken in convoys to rebel-held parts of Idlib.
Meanwhile, there were new protests across the world, from Malaysia to Turkey, to condemn violence against Syrian civilians and show solidarity with the country's opposition.Meanwhile, there were new protests across the world, from Malaysia to Turkey, to condemn violence against Syrian civilians and show solidarity with the country's opposition.
Why did the evacuation stop?Why did the evacuation stop?
Confusion reigned on Friday morning when the Aleppo evacuation was stopped. Confusion reigned on Friday morning when the evacuation, which was taking place along corridors out of Aleppo towards rebel-held areas (Khan al-Asal and Khan Touman), was stopped.
Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government on the ground, said the evacuation was complete, with all rebels and their families having been evacuated. It put the number at more than 9,500.Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government on the ground, said the evacuation was complete, with all rebels and their families having been evacuated. It put the number at more than 9,500.
However, Turkey contradicted this, saying many people still wanted to leave.However, Turkey contradicted this, saying many people still wanted to leave.
Speaking in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said consultations were under way with Russia and Iran, another key ally of the Syrian government, as well as "elements on the ground".Speaking in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said consultations were under way with Russia and Iran, another key ally of the Syrian government, as well as "elements on the ground".
An unnamed Syrian official overseeing the operation told AFP news agency the evacuation had been suspended "because the militants failed to respect the conditions of the agreement".An unnamed Syrian official overseeing the operation told AFP news agency the evacuation had been suspended "because the militants failed to respect the conditions of the agreement".
Syrian state media also accused rebels in Aleppo of trying to smuggle captives and heavy weapons out with them as they left besieged enclaves in the city. Under a deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, the rebels were meant to ease their siege of towns in Idlib province.
Later on Friday, rebel sources told media that Jabhat had agreed to let injured people out of Foua and Kefraya, and the evacuations there were due to start shortly. Reports suggest the biggest rebel group in Idlib, the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham jihadists formerly known as the Nusra Front, have now agreed to allow injured people to leave the towns, Foua and Kefraya, which are home to some 20,000 people.
Syrian state media also accused rebels in Aleppo of trying to smuggle captives and heavy weapons out with them as they left Aleppo.
Who is still trapped in eastern Aleppo?Who is still trapped in eastern Aleppo?
"There are still high numbers of women and infants - children under five - that need to get out," WHO official Ms Hoff told the UN on Friday in a phone call from government-held western Aleppo shortly after the suspension had been announced. The UN's children's charity Unicef says sick and wounded children are among the evacuees from east Aleppo, some of whom left without their parents.
"They have been collecting themselves on the points where the buses and the ambulances were waiting for them. "However, hundreds of other vulnerable children, including orphans, remain trapped inside that part of the city," it added.
"But now with the operation aborted they had to go back to their houses and this a great concern to us because we know that they are desperate to get out." "We are extremely concerned about their fate. If these children are not evacuated urgently, they could die."
On Thursday, the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said there were "50,000 people, including 40,000 civilians, unfortunate enough to live in" eastern Aleppo. On Thursday, the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, had put the number of people remaining in east Aleppo at 50,000.
Is there any sign of peace in Syria?Is there any sign of peace in Syria?
Government forces have captured almost all of the rebel-held territory in eastern Aleppo, with the help of Russian air strikes. But the conflict in Syria is far from over.Government forces have captured almost all of the rebel-held territory in eastern Aleppo, with the help of Russian air strikes. But the conflict in Syria is far from over.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused the Syrian government of carrying out "nothing short of a massacre" in Aleppo.US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused the Syrian government of carrying out "nothing short of a massacre" in Aleppo.
Syria and Russia have repeatedly denied targeting civilians in eastern Aleppo.Syria and Russia have repeatedly denied targeting civilians in eastern Aleppo.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for all sides to agree to a complete nationwide ceasefire on Friday.Russian President Vladimir Putin called for all sides to agree to a complete nationwide ceasefire on Friday.
Speaking during a visit to Japan, he said Russia and Turkey were working to launch a new round of peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Kazakhstan. This would be in addition to the UN-run efforts in Geneva. In another development on Friday, Syrian state media report that a girl aged between seven and nine, wearing a bomb belt, blew herself up at a police station in the Midan district of the capital, Damascus.
Three police officers were reportedly injured in the explosion.