PATIENTS TO BE EVACUATED FROM ALEPPO

Aleppo, Oct. 20: A “humanitarian pause” in the Syrian army’s Russian-backed assault on Aleppo took effect on Thursday, but despite a drop in violence there was little sign residents were heeding calls to leave. The UN said it hoped to carry out the first medical evacuations from Aleppo on Friday, after getting clearance from all warring parties and a pledge from Russia to extend the truce until Saturday.

The unilateral ceasefire began at 8 am and was to last at least 11 hours, with the aim of allowing civilians and fighters to evacuate the city’s opposition-controlled east.

Gunfire and artillery exchanges erupted around a crossing point near the rebel-controlled Bustan al-Qasr district shortly after the pause began, a report said.

State news agency SANA said “terrorist groups” had targeted the area around the corridor with rocket, machinegun and sniper fire “in an attempt to hinder the humanitarian pause”.