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Aleppo evacuations 'suspended' after blasts heard near rebel area, Syrian official says Aleppo evacuations suspended after ceasefire violations and disputes over deal terms
(about 2 hours later)
The evacuation of rebels and civilians from rebel-held east Aleppo has been jeapordised following reports of ceasefire violations and a suspension on the convoys of buses leaving the city.   The evacuation of rebels and civilians from rebel-held east Aleppo has been jeopordised following a suspension on the convoys of buses leaving the city, reported violence, and disagreements between negotiating parties on the implementation of Wednesday's faltering ceasefire deal.
Four blasts occurred at Rasmouseh, the area from which convoys have been departing, a source on the ground said on Friday morning. Syrian state TV reported rebel gunfire, which pro-opposition sources disputed, claiming shots had been fired by pro-government Shia miliitas.    Blasts and gunfire were reported at Rasmouseh, the area from which convoys have been departing, on Friday morning, which Syrian state TV blamed on rebels and pro-opposition sources claimed shots had been fired by pro-government Shia miliitas.   
The evacuations to neighbouring rebel-held Idlib province have been suspended, a Syrian miltary official said. Syrian authorities later clarified that the suspensions were "temporary" rather than "over," but it is unclear what will happen now that rebel groups have said they are on "high alert." Rebels leaving the city were also trying to smuggle prisoners and heavy weaponry out of the city, Syrian officials said, annnoucing evacuations to neighbouring rebel-held Idlib province have been suspended.
Syrian authorities later clarified that the suspensions were "temporary" rather than "over," although continued disagreements on the agreed parallel evacuations of the pro-government villages of Kefraya and Foua in Idlib mean the deal's future is still unclear. 
"If the evacuation of the injured in Kefraya and al-Foua takes place, the operation to evacuate eastern Aleppo will resume immediately," a Syrian official said.  
Sunni Islamist groups in Idlib had earlier blocked the agreed mirror evacuations of Shia fighters from the loyalist villlages, contributing to the hold up, but appeared to have agreed to the terms on Friday afternoon. 
World Heath Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Elizabeth Hoff in government-held west Aleppo said that negotiations were ongoing. "There are a large number of women and children, and there are others, who are still inside and want to get out," she added, disputing claims made in Russian media that the evacuation of civilans had been completed. 
Rebel groups within east Aleppo have said they are on "high alert."
"Everyone is manning positions and the fronts. Readiness is at the highest level," the head of the Fastaqim rebel group said, claiming pro-government forces had abducted civilians trying to leave Aleppo and deployed heavy weaponry on the road. "Everyone is manning positions and the fronts. Readiness is at the highest level," the head of the Fastaqim rebel group said, claiming pro-government forces had abducted civilians trying to leave Aleppo and deployed heavy weaponry on the road. 
World Heath Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Elizabeth Hoff in government-held west Aleppo said that all WHO and Syrian Arab Red Crescent workers have been told to leave the city, taking buses and ambulances with them, "without explanation".
A media channel run by Hezbollah, Damascus' ally, said that Sunni Islamist groups had blocked the agreed mirror evacuations of Shia fighters from the loyalist villlages of Kefraya and Foua in Idlib, contributing to the break down of the truce.
A previous ceasefire which went into effect on Tuesday evening broke down after 12 hours, after which heavy fighting and shelling in the wartorn city resumed. A previous ceasefire which went into effect on Tuesday evening broke down after 12 hours, after which heavy fighting and shelling in the wartorn city resumed. 
It is unclear how many people have managed to leave. Syrian state TV and Russian sources said 8,000 people were evacuated on Thursday, but the International Red Cross put the figure closer to 4,000. There could be up to 50,000 still trapped in the last slivers of rebel territory, the UN says. It is unclear how many people have managed to leave. Syrian state TV and Russian sources said 8,000 people were evacuated on Thursday, but the International Red Cross put the figure closer to 4,000. There could be up to 50,000 still trapped in the last slivers of rebel territory, the UN says. 
Before reports of the apparent breakdown emerged, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a state visit to Japan that new peace talks between the Syrian government and Sunni opposition would occur in the Kazakh capital of Astana. Before reports of the apparent breakdown emerged, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a state visit to Japan that new peace talks between the Syrian government and Sunni opposition would occur in the Kazakh capital of Astana. 
The talks would be brokered by Turkey and Russia, signalling the widespread disenchantment with the UN and US's diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the bloody six-year-long conflict.