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Safe routes to open for civilians and unarmed rebels to leave Aleppo

“The ministers solemnly called upon the Syrian regime’s allies to bring an immediate end to these operations which violate the truce agreed in Munich, and global law”, they said in the joint statement.

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“If it is a genuine humanitarian proposal, then clearly it would be accompanied by an end to the bombing campaign and by Russian support for other aspects of this comprehensive approach to the humanitarian situation in Aleppo”, he told reporters in NY.

Regime planes on Thursday dropped flyers showing a map with the location of these humanitarian passages, he said, as well as small aid packages.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says efforts to create humanitarian corridors in Aleppo must ensure everyone is protected and supported, regardless of whether they leave or stay. “But humanitarian corridors need to be well-planned, and must be implemented with the consent of parties on all sides”, Krista Armstrong said.

United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said the world body had not been consulted on Russia’s initiative, warning that the humanitarian situation was “very serious” in eastern Aleppo which had only two to three weeks worth of supplies. “As I told the UN Security Council on Monday, we demand safe, regular and sustained access to the quarter of a million people trapped behind the front lines”.

US and Russian military officials were coming to Geneva to discuss details, he told reporters after a weekly meeting of the humanitarian task force.

Senior Nusra Front figures have been discussing plans to dissociate from al-Qaida.

On the diplomatic front, the U.S.is attempting to work with Russian Federation to push forward with peace negotiations.

Khandakani said life has progressively gotten harder under the 10-day old siege with bread and water shortages and electricity finally going out Wednesday.

Syrian state television quoted the governor of Aleppo as saying three humanitarian corridors would be established for civilians to leave the city. Noting “serious concern” about the situation in Aleppo, saying that the city is “de facto besieged”, because it is nearly completely encircled militarily.

Mohammed Marwan Olbi says the government will offer those who leave temporary accommodation.

Between Thursday and Saturday, the regime or its Russian ally bombed four hospitals, rebel-held Aleppo’s only blood bank and a forensic pathology lab, almost all in the Al Sha’ar neighborhood, one of the biggest and poorest parts of east Aleppo.

There were no immediate signs of people converging on the crossings.

The Syrian military has been air-dropping leaflets into the city’s east calling on residents to cooperate and fighters to surrender.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday offered amnesty to armed rebels who surrender to the government within three months, state news agency SANA reported.

In early July, regime forces moved to cut Castello road, which links the contested city of Aleppo with opposition-held Idlib, imposing a total blockade on opposition-controlled areas in Aleppo.

“The Russian spokesman said the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has already agreed to take part in the talks and emphasised the importance of an inclusive delegation from the Syrian opposition, which should include Kurdish representatives as well as all other opponents of official Damascus that take a constructive approach and seek a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis”, the Russian foreign ministry said in a press release. It says dozens of gunmen have laid down their weapons and surrendered in the neighborhood. The encirclement set the stage for a prolonged siege that the government hopes will eventually starve out and force the rebels to surrender, a tactic Assad’s forces have used elsewhere, including in the central city of Homs. Pro-government forces have been steadily tightening a siege on rebels in the eastern part of the city since last week. “In exchange, Russian Federation would prevail on its ally, the regime of Bashar al-Assad, to stop bombing moderate rebel groups and civilians”.

Shoigu said in televised remarks on Thursday that President Vladimir Putin, in response to a request by Kerry, ordered a general and experts to Geneva.

The announcement is the first time that an entire branch of al Qaeda has said it is leaving the terror network.

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There have been several presidential amnesty offers in recent years. It was reported by state-run news agency SANA.

Syrian army soldiers patrol the area around the entrance of Bani Zeid after taking control of the previously terrorist-held district of Leramun on the northwest outskirts of Aleppo