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Russia urges strict observance of truce in Aleppo

Xinhua, May 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russia on Friday urged strict observance of cease-fire in the war-ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo and an uncompromising struggle against terrorist groups that violate truce in Syria.

Russia, in coordination with the United States, is exerting all efforts so that the truce which has proven itself positively over the last few days in Northern Latakia and Eastern Ghouta, is reliably spread throughout Aleppo, spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said at a weekly briefing.

A 48-hour truce called by Russia and the United States started in Aleppo at 1:00 a.m. Thursday (2300 GMT Wednesday) to bring a lull to the troubled city that has witnessed raging violence in the past few weeks.

Fierce violence in and around Aleppo has claimed the lives of more than 280 civilians since April 22.

Zakharova blamed Syria's Al-Qaida affiliate Al-Nusra Front for the latest escalation of hostilities in Aleppo, which has put truce and intra-Syrian talks on the verge of collapse.

She called on all international and regional powers that have influence on armed groups in Syria to persuade their "fosterlings" to separate decisively from the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front.

Moscow insists on the necessity of an uncompromising struggle against terrorists and those along with them that violate truce, she said.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fighting opposition factions and extremist groups.

A ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States was largely held across Syria on Feb. 27. Endi