Plea to Russians to show ‘grace’

SYRIA: The United States implored Russia yesterday to ‘‘show a little grace’’, as Moscowbacked Syrian forces, nearing victory, pummelled Aleppo in a devastating blitz.

The Syrian regime has been indiscriminately bombarding the ever-diminishing enclave of rebel territory in the east of the city with barrel bombs, mortar fire and chlorine gas.

More than 450 people have been killed since the beginning of its ground offensive to recapture Syria’s second city in midNovember.

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled in the last 48 hours after the regime and its Russian ally granted them safe passage. However, those that remain - thought to number about 100,000 - fear arrest or worse if their neighbourhoods fall to progovernment forces.

Hundreds of boys and men have been reported missing after crossing from the east to the government-controlled west. Many have apparently been detained or forcibly conscripted into the army.

‘‘We are watching with concern the last steps of what will be called in history the ‘Battle for Aleppo’,’’ Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations’ Syria envoy, said yesterday.

Hours after a suspected chlorine gas attack, which left scores of women and children being taken to hospital, John Kerry, US secretary of state, accused the Syrian government of war crimes and pleaded with Moscow to stop the ancient city from being ‘‘absolutely, completely, destroyed’’.

He said: ‘‘I believe there could be a way forward but it depends on big, magnanimous choices from Russia. Russia and Assad have a moment where they are in a dominant position to show a little grace.’’

Repeated talks between Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, have so far failed to

"We are watching with concern the last steps of what will be called in history the 'Battle for Aleppo'" Staffan de Mistura, United Nations' Syria envoy

halt the violence.

Under the plan, the disarmed fighters and civilians could leave the besieged city through corridors to either the rebelcontrolled northern city of Idlib or to the Turkish border.

However, opposition forces have vowed to fight until the ‘‘last drop of blood’’. Their chief backer, the US, will have to convince them to surrender before any deal can be done.

With rebel defences crumbling in eastern Aleppo, the nerve centre of the rebellion against Assad, he is on the brink of regaining full control of the city for the first time since 2012.

Meanwhile, the rebels have accused the US, which has for years been supporting the rebellion with training and weapons, of abandoning their cause. - Telegraph Group