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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Evacuations stall as war rages in Aleppo |
| 2016-12-15 |
| [KhaleejTimes] Deadly clashes erupted in Syria's Aleppo on Wednesday as a deal for the evacuation of rebel areas was put on hold, leaving thousands of cold and hungry civilians uncertain of their future. Qatar announced that it will call off its National Day celebrations next week out of solidarity with the people Aleppo. Aleppo families had gathered in the streets before dawn hoping to leave the ravaged city after an agreement announced the night before to evacuate civilians and rebels. The first departures had been expected around 5am but there was no movement, and a few hours later, fierce fighting shook the city. The landmark evacuation deal, brokered by Russia and Turkey, came after the army seized more than 90 per cent of east Aleppo from the rebels. It would have marked the end of opposition resistance in Syria's second city after years of fighting and dealt the op-position their worst blow since the conflict began in March 2011. But it appeared increasingly fragile by Wednesday afternoon as the government and the rebels, as well as their foreign allies, traded accusations. Iran, one of President Bashar Al Assad's main backers in the battle, imposed new conditions, saying it wanted the simultaneous evacuation of wounded from two villages besieged by rebel fighters, according to rebel and UN sources. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later in bid to rescue the deal. "The situation on the ground is very fragile and complicated," he said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |