UN envoy warns of Aleppo’s destruction

Al-Qaida-linked militants urged to disarm, leave

GENEVA • The UN envoy for Syria called on al-Qaidalinked militants to leave the embattled city of Aleppo in exchange for an end to government and Russian bombardment, warning Thursday thousands of civilians could be killed and the historic city “destroyed” by year-end if conditions do not soon change.

Special envoy Staffan de Mistura urged fighters from Fatah al-Sham Front (previously known as al-Nusra Front) to leave in exchange for peace.

He entreated both sides to “look at my eyes” and offered to “personally” escort the fighters to a refuge of their choosing, provided they agree to disarm.

The Syrian government and Russian bombardment of the city’s rebel-held east has killed 376 people in the last two weeks, the envoy said. Presumed rebel shelling killed at least eight people in the government-held western section Thursday.

De Mistura acknowledged the fighters would “need some guarantees” before evacuating to another rebelheld part of the country, but said these would have to come from the government.

He also called for local officials in opposition-held eastern neighbourhoods to remain after Fatah al-Sham leaves, with the UN establishing a presence there to bring humanitarian supplies.

His proposals marked the first major initiative by the UN to help find a way out of the Syria crisis after the United States, citing in part the Aleppo onslaught, suspended its joint effort with Russia to stop the fighting. Those two powers had been leading the diplomatic push.

Yet rebel fighters in Aleppo expressed deep skepticism over de Mistura’s proposal. They say the Fatah al-Sham Front has been instrumental to the east’s defence, having led an August counter-offensive that briefly broke the government’s siege. The UN estimates 275,000 people are trapped in eastern Aleppo.

Ammar Sakkar, a military spokesman for Fastiqum rebel group, said the evacuation plan was “a form of trickery” that would allow pro-government forces to carry out a “longer period of killing and crime.”

He accused the UN of holding a “double standard,” arguing before calling for fighters to leave it must “first stop the head of terrorism and stop his own acts of terrorism and crime against the Syrian people,” referring to President Bashar Assad.

“It would have been better if (de Mistura) spoke about protecting civilians and halting the criminal activities that target civilians in Aleppo,” echoed Yasser Alyousef, a spokesman for Nour el-Din el-Zinki insurgent group.