Russia ‘Syrian army has suspended active combat operations’

Russia has claimed that the Syrian army has “suspended active combat operations” in eastern Aleppo – while a large scale evacuation of civilians takes place. Sergei Lavrov said some eight thousand people would be taken out of the rebel-held area where they’ve been trapped by intense fighting. As Syrian forces advance further into insurgent territory – the leader of Aleppo’s council appealed for civilians to be protected – saying a hundred and fifty thousand people were effectively condemned to death.