UN condemns attack on evacuees traveling to government-controlled areas in Syria

The United Nations Saturday condemned the attack on 5,000 evacuees traveling to government-controlled areas in Syria on the same day.

"We condemn the attack today in Rashideen, west Aleppo, on 5,000 evacuees traveling from the towns of Foah and Kefraya to government-controlled areas," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement.

"We express our condolences to the families of the victims of the incident and wish those injured a speedy recovery," he said.

The evacuations were being conducted in accordance with the Four Towns Agreement covering Foah, Kefraya, Madaya and Zabadani, said Dujarric.

"We call on the parties to ensure the safety and security of those waiting to be evacuated," he said, adding that "those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice."

At least 70 people were killed and 128 others wounded in a blast on Saturday targeting the gathering point of buses transporting Shiites evacuating from two pro-government towns in northern Syria.

The blast, carried out by a suicide bomber driving a booby-trapped potato truck, rocked the rebel-held rural Rashideen area in Aleppo province. Endi