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Russia urges U.S to pressure Syrian opposition to cease fire for withdrawal

Xinhua, December 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday urged the United States to pressure the Syrian opposition to cease fire and withdraw from the embattled city of Aleppo.

In a phone conversation with U.S. State Secretary John Kerry, Lavrov told his U.S. counterpart that the Syrian authorities have been ready to provide free exit for surrounded militants in eastern Aleppo, but they refuse to stop hostilities under the influence of the leaders of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Kerry reassured Lavrov that the U.S. is working with the opposition groups that have sabotaged the demand of the United Nations Security Council for an urgent start of intra-Syrian negotiations without preconditions, the ministry added.

Earlier on Wednesday, a truce for evacuating rebels and their families from rebel-held areas in Aleppo has failed, and both warring sides resumed fighting. Endit