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| Syria conflict: Kerry hopes to salvage truce as new raids hit Aleppo | Syria conflict: Kerry hopes to salvage truce as new raids hit Aleppo |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry says envoys meeting in Geneva are getting closer to an understanding on salvaging the cessation of hostilities in Syria. | US Secretary of State John Kerry says envoys meeting in Geneva are getting closer to an understanding on salvaging the cessation of hostilities in Syria. |
| He told reporters progress was being made on a plan to reduce the violence in the second city of Aleppo, which has threatened to sink the nine-week truce. | He told reporters progress was being made on a plan to reduce the violence in the second city of Aleppo, which has threatened to sink the nine-week truce. |
| But he accused the Syrian government of "blatantly violating" the agreement to halt hostilities and allow aid in. | |
| About 250 people have reportedly been killed in Aleppo in the past nine days. | |
| On Monday, fresh government air strikes and artillery attacks on rebel-held districts and suburbs of Aleppo left at least three dead, activists said. | |
| Mr Kerry, speaking after a morning of talks in Geneva, said the conflict in Syria was "in many ways out of control and deeply disturbing". | |
| The secretary of state also announced a beefing up of the negotiations in Geneva, with additional US and Russian officials posted there. | |
| The UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura will travel to Russia on Tuesday and Mr Kerry said he would speak to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, later on Monday. | |
| Aleppo's 'last paediatrician' dead | |
| Mr Kerry's trip to Geneva was hastily arranged after Mr de Mistura appealed to the US and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syria's five-year conflict, to rescue the cessation of hostilities they brokered in February. | |
| At the start of his meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday, the US secretary of state said he would press rebel groups operating in Aleppo to separate themselves from the powerful jihadist group, al-Nusra Front. | |
| "This is what we're discussing, among other things. There are a number of different ways to approach it," Mr Kerry told reporters. | "This is what we're discussing, among other things. There are a number of different ways to approach it," Mr Kerry told reporters. |
| "We're getting closer to a place of understanding. But we have some work to do." | "We're getting closer to a place of understanding. But we have some work to do." |
| The Syrian government and Russia have said the Aleppo air strikes are targeting only al-Nusra, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda and is excluded from the cessation of hostilities along with the rival Islamic State group. | The Syrian government and Russia have said the Aleppo air strikes are targeting only al-Nusra, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda and is excluded from the cessation of hostilities along with the rival Islamic State group. |
| However, the opposition and the US have dismissed the claim, and accused the government of targeting civilians and rebels abiding by the cessation of hostilities. | However, the opposition and the US have dismissed the claim, and accused the government of targeting civilians and rebels abiding by the cessation of hostilities. |
| "What is happening in Aleppo is an outrage. It's a violation of all humanitarian laws. It's a crime," Mr Jubeir said, adding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would be held accountable and would be removed from power either through a political process or by force. | "What is happening in Aleppo is an outrage. It's a violation of all humanitarian laws. It's a crime," Mr Jubeir said, adding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would be held accountable and would be removed from power either through a political process or by force. |
| The fighting in Aleppo has also seen dozens of civilians killed in rebel artillery attacks on government-held areas. Six people died as a result of rocket fire on Tuesday, state media said. | |
| After at least 50 people were killed in a reported government air strike on a hospital on Wednesday night, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that Aleppo was being "pushed further to the brink of humanitarian disaster". | After at least 50 people were killed in a reported government air strike on a hospital on Wednesday night, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that Aleppo was being "pushed further to the brink of humanitarian disaster". |
| Large parts of the city have been destroyed and its infrastructure has been severely damaged, leaving civilians without water and electricity for months. | Large parts of the city have been destroyed and its infrastructure has been severely damaged, leaving civilians without water and electricity for months. |
| The talks in Geneva come a day after the Syrian military extended a "regime of calm" around the capital, Damascus, for another 24 hours. | The talks in Geneva come a day after the Syrian military extended a "regime of calm" around the capital, Damascus, for another 24 hours. |
| The unilateral truce also covers the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, | The unilateral truce also covers the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, |
| More than three dozen rebel factions said on Saturday that they would not respect the truce, unless the government agreed to extend it over the whole country. | More than three dozen rebel factions said on Saturday that they would not respect the truce, unless the government agreed to extend it over the whole country. |