Russia says near deal with US to ease fighting in Aleppo
Russia says near deal with US to ease fighting in Aleppo : Russia is close to a deal with the United States to ease fighting in Aleppo, said Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu on Monday evening, speaking on Russian TV station Rossiya 24.
“Step by step, we are nearing an arrangement – I’m talking exclusively about Aleppo – that would allow us to find common ground and start fighting together for bringing peace to that territory,” Shoygu said.
Also on Monday, the spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Moscow to use its influence on Syria’s president to ease the suffering of Aleppo residents, and said the announcement by Russia of a three-hour daily ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Aleppo is “cynical”, because three hours isn’t enough time to allow aid in.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, since July 31 until August 14 there have been 327 civilian deaths due to airstrikes in Aleppo and surrounding areas, including 76 children and 41 women, with dozens of wounded.
Meanwhile, ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on a bus carrying rebel fighters on Monday at the Atmeh border crossing with Turkey, which killed at least 30 rebel fighters.
Local sources said at least 200 rebel fighters from various factions have bases at the border crossing in Atmeh and use the crossing to receive weapons, supplies and additional fighters.
Source:www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2016/08/16/russia-says-near-deal-with-us-to-ease-fighting-in-aleppo_e1066d7a-1e84-4019-b474-1276706a90a9.html
