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Russia, Syria halt airstrikes against Aleppo: Russian DM

Xinhua, October 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian and Syrian air forces have halted airstrikes against Syria's Aleppo from 10 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday ahead of a humanitarian pause set for Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.

"This will ensure the safety of exit of civilians via six corridors and to prepare the wounded in the eastern part of Aleppo for evacuation," Shoigu said.

By the start of the humanitarian pause Syrian troops will withdraw a certain distance, allowing the militants with their weapons to freely leave eastern Aleppo by two corridors, he added.

He also urged countries that have influence on the armed groups in the eastern part of Aleppo to persuade their leaders to cease hostilities and leave the city.

The Russian Defense Ministry Monday announced a pause in strikes against rebel-controlled areas in the city of Aleppo for eight hours from 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) till 4 p.m. (1300 GMT) local time on Oct. 20.

Russian warplanes and Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have restarted strikes against rebel-controlled areas of Aleppo since the collapse of the ceasefire agreement reached between Moscow and Washington last month. Endi