US threatens to cut contact with Moscow

US SECRETARY of State John Kerry is threatening to cut off all contact with Moscow over Syria, unless Russian and Syrian government attacks on Aleppo end.

Mr Kerry issued the ultimatum in a telephone call to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and expressed grave concern over Russian and Syrian government attacks on hospitals, water supplies and other civilian infrastructure in Aleppo.

Mr Kerry told Mr Lavrov the US holds Russia responsible for the use of incendiary and bunker-buster bombs in an urban area.

Meanwhile, UN chief Ban Ki-moon says the situation in rebel-held parts of Aleppo is worse than a “slaughterhouse” and implicitly accused Syria and Russia of committing war crimes. His comment came as two more hospitals were struck there.