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Egypt's FM calls for ceasefire, political dialogue in Syria

Xinhua, December 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called Monday for an immediate ceasefire and the start of a political dialogue in war-torn Syria.

Speaking to a special session of the Arab League Council on the situation in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, Shoukry said talks can prevent foreign intervention in Syrian affairs and stop continued terrorism there.

The failure to reach a political settlement and stop the war in Syria was the main reason behind the tragic situation in Aleppo, Shoukry was quoted by the state-run MENA news agency as telling the foreign ministers attending the meeting.

He added that Egypt supported all draft resolutions on the humanitarian situation in Aleppo.

He called for launching a political process in Syria without preconditions or evasiveness, and stopping all attempts to intimidate the Syrian people.

Once Syria's commercial hub, Aleppo has been divided roughly into two since 2012, with western parts under government control and eastern districts held by rebels.

The Syrian army has captured 99 percent of eastern Aleppo over the past three weeks, as part of a major offensive aimed at driving out the rebels from the city. Endi