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-38358177
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Aleppo battle: Rebels burn Syria evacuation buses | Aleppo battle: Rebels burn Syria evacuation buses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Several buses sent to transport the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province have been burned by rebels. | Several buses sent to transport the sick and injured from two government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province have been burned by rebels. |
| The attack apparently halted the latest efforts to evacuate besieged areas. | The attack apparently halted the latest efforts to evacuate besieged areas. |
| Pro-government forces say people must be allowed to leave the mainly Shia villages of Foah and Kefraya for the evacuation of east Aleppo to restart. | Pro-government forces say people must be allowed to leave the mainly Shia villages of Foah and Kefraya for the evacuation of east Aleppo to restart. |
| State media said convoys began to leave Aleppo on Sunday but other reports said they turned back. | State media said convoys began to leave Aleppo on Sunday but other reports said they turned back. |
| The initial plan to evacuate the last rebel-held enclaves in the city collapsed on Friday, leaving civilians stranded at various points along the route out without access to food or shelter. | The initial plan to evacuate the last rebel-held enclaves in the city collapsed on Friday, leaving civilians stranded at various points along the route out without access to food or shelter. |
| Meanwhile, the UN Security Council agreed a draft resolution on sending UN officials to monitor the evacuations in Aleppo, diplomats said. Russia, which backs the government of President Bashar al-Assad, had earlier threatened to veto the French-drafted text. | Meanwhile, the UN Security Council agreed a draft resolution on sending UN officials to monitor the evacuations in Aleppo, diplomats said. Russia, which backs the government of President Bashar al-Assad, had earlier threatened to veto the French-drafted text. |
| But after three hours of negotiations behind closed doors, the Security Council appeared to come to a compromise. | But after three hours of negotiations behind closed doors, the Security Council appeared to come to a compromise. |
| "We expect to vote unanimously for this text tomorrow [Monday]," said US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power. | "We expect to vote unanimously for this text tomorrow [Monday]," said US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power. |
| Buses were preparing to evacuate people from both eastern Aleppo and the government-held villages in Idlib province on Sunday. | Buses were preparing to evacuate people from both eastern Aleppo and the government-held villages in Idlib province on Sunday. |
| A number of buses did succeed in entering Foah and Kefraya, according to the UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which earlier reported that Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had been holding them up. | A number of buses did succeed in entering Foah and Kefraya, according to the UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which earlier reported that Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had been holding them up. |
| However, six buses were attacked and torched on the way, the SOHR said. | However, six buses were attacked and torched on the way, the SOHR said. |
| Syrian state media said "armed terrorists" - a term it uses for all groups fighting against President Assad - attacked five buses, burned and destroyed them. | Syrian state media said "armed terrorists" - a term it uses for all groups fighting against President Assad - attacked five buses, burned and destroyed them. |
| A reporter for AFP news agency said armed men forced the drivers of the buses to get out before opening fire and setting the vehicles alight. | A reporter for AFP news agency said armed men forced the drivers of the buses to get out before opening fire and setting the vehicles alight. |
| Several reports from opposition sources said Jabhat Fatah al-Sham was responsible. But Hezbollah's al-Manar TV and Beirut-based pro-Syrian government al-Mayadin TV said clashes between jihadist Jabhat Fath al-Sham and the rebel Islamist Ahrar al-Sham had resulted in the blaze. | Several reports from opposition sources said Jabhat Fatah al-Sham was responsible. But Hezbollah's al-Manar TV and Beirut-based pro-Syrian government al-Mayadin TV said clashes between jihadist Jabhat Fath al-Sham and the rebel Islamist Ahrar al-Sham had resulted in the blaze. |
| The jihadist groups have not commented on the attack. | The jihadist groups have not commented on the attack. |
| However, the Free Syrian Army, a more moderate rebel faction, condemned it as a "reckless act endangering the lives of nearly 50,000 people" in east Aleppo. | However, the Free Syrian Army, a more moderate rebel faction, condemned it as a "reckless act endangering the lives of nearly 50,000 people" in east Aleppo. |
| Who are Jabhat Fateh al-Sham? | Who are Jabhat Fateh al-Sham? |
| Syrian state media said buses entered eastern Aleppo around noon local time, under the supervision of the International Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. | Syrian state media said buses entered eastern Aleppo around noon local time, under the supervision of the International Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. |
| Some 1,200 people were due to be taken out of the former rebel enclave in return for a similar number moved out of the two government-held villages, Foah and Kefraya. | Some 1,200 people were due to be taken out of the former rebel enclave in return for a similar number moved out of the two government-held villages, Foah and Kefraya. |
| Pro-government forces had reportedly demanded that a group of people needing medical treatment also be allowed to leave the two areas. | Pro-government forces had reportedly demanded that a group of people needing medical treatment also be allowed to leave the two areas. |
| Reports said a new agreement was reached in the early hours of Sunday but delays meant thousands of civilians remained stranded. | Reports said a new agreement was reached in the early hours of Sunday but delays meant thousands of civilians remained stranded. |
| Bombardment of east Aleppo has left it virtually without medical facilities. A video published on Sunday showed nurses performing a Caesarean because the siege has prevented surgeons reaching the stricken area. | |
| Among the people waiting to leave eastern Aleppo are sick and wounded children, said the children's charity Unicef. | Among the people waiting to leave eastern Aleppo are sick and wounded children, said the children's charity Unicef. |
| Some young children have been forced to leave without their parents, the charity said, and hundreds of vulnerable children remain trapped. | Some young children have been forced to leave without their parents, the charity said, and hundreds of vulnerable children remain trapped. |