Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Feb. 27

DAMASCUS -- The rebels in Syria's Eastern Ghouta fired five mortar shells on a safe corridor prepared for the evacuation of civilians under a Russian-proposed humanitarian pause on Tuesday, the state-run TV reported.

The rebels fired the mortar shells on the Wafidin crossing, the only corridor for civilians to evacuate the rebel-held areas in Eastern Ghouta toward government-controlled parts in Damascus. (Syria-Ghouta)

- - - -

ANKARA -- Turkey has not been engaged in any diplomatic talks with the U.S. over the ongoing military operation in Syria's Afrin, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

Spokesperson Hami Aksoy told reporters that the Pentagon's statement regarding Syria's Afrin is not true. (Turkey-U.S.-Afrin)

- - - -

ANKARA -- Turkey slammed on Tuesday a decision by a Czech court to release former Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) leader Salih Muslim, saying it is "a mistake" and "politically motivated."

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesperson Bekir Bozdag criticized the Czech court's decision as "a clear support of terrorism." (Turkey-Czech Court-Kurdish)

- - - -

TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday welcomed the adoption of a Russian-drafted resolution on a technical rollover of the Yemen sanctions regime.

"As expected, an earlier resolution proposed by the UK was blocked because of it being far from reality," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said. (Iran-Yemen) Enditem