Syrian government air strikes and artillery fire killed at least 16 civilians on Wednesday in rebel-held neighbourhoods in the east of Aleppo city, a monitor said.
Advertisement
The advance began last week when Syrian forces successfully intercepted and severed the last rebel supply route connecting rebel-held areas in the north of Aleppo with rebel-held ones inside the city itself, mainly in the east.
“Everyone carrying arms… and sought by justice…is excluded from full punishment if they hand themselves in and lay down their weapons”, SANA said, quoting a presidential decree on the three-month amnesty offer.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his British counterpart Boris Johnson called Thursday for the Syrian regime and its allies to end their “disastrous” siege on the city of Aleppo.
“The Russian Center for reconciliation of warring parties will open three humanitarian corridors together with the Syrian government to provide assistance to people who were taken hostage by terrorists, as well as for militants who want to lay down their arms”.
Chamaa, referring to a proposed humanitarian corridor for civilians, told a briefing: “We would like this to be realised for sure, under global supervision….We don’t know the intention of the Russian and Syrian forces”.
That area was once the rebels’ main launching pad for attacks against government-controlled areas in western Aleppo.
Corridors are to be opened to allow civilians and unarmed rebels to leave the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, Russia – Syria’s key ally – has said.
State television announced “the opening of three passages to allow citizens out of eastern districts” of Aleppo, adding that “everything was ready to receive them in temporary installations”.
The Russian government said it welcomed global aid organisations, which operate in Syria, to join the operation.
Militants who wish to lay down their weapons can leave the city through another corridor.
Previously the country’s economic hub, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside have suffered some of the worst fighting in the five-year conflict that has killed more than 280,000 people.
Advertisement
Assad has issued amnesty offers several times in the past in the course of Syria’s civil war, now in its sixth year.
