BBC Online :
A new deal has been reached to allow the evacuation of several besieged enclaves in Syria, the government and rebels say.
Thousands of civilians and rebels are hoping to leave east Aleppo after rapid government advances in recent weeks.
At least 6,000 people left under a fragile truce that started on Thursday, but evacuations stopped a day later.
Hours after the announcement of the new agreement, aid agencies were still waiting to resume the operation.
As well as east Aleppo, the deal is also said to include the evacuation of two other rebel-held towns and two towns loyal to the government.
Confusion reigned on Friday morning when the evacuation, which was taking place along corridors out of Aleppo towards rebel-held areas (Khan al-Asal and Khan Touman), was stopped.
The government said rebel fighters had fired on the convoys. Rebels said pro-government forces opened fire.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote over the weekend on a French-drafted proposal to ensure the operation is co-ordinated by international observers, with humanitarian aid allowed into Aleppo and hospitals given protection.
Correspondents say thousands of cold and hungry civilians remain stranded in the rebel-held east of the city, waiting to be moved to safety.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on all sides to provide guarantees and allow the evacuation to be completed.
“It’s important that the parties on the ground do their utmost to end this limbo,” ICRC Syria head Marianne Gasser said in the statement.
“People have suffered a lot. Please come to an agreement and help save thousands of lives.”
US President Barack Obama on Friday accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran of “atrocities”, saying the world was “united in horror” at the situation.
Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the evacuation from Foah and Kefraya, which are home to some 20,000 people, was expected to start on Saturday.
Syrian state TV, meanwhile, said starting the Idlib evacuations was the main condition for allowing the Aleppo exodus to continue.
A military news outlet run by the pro-government Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah said buses were on their way to the two towns, according to Reuters.
A new deal has been reached to allow the evacuation of several besieged enclaves in Syria, the government and rebels say.
Thousands of civilians and rebels are hoping to leave east Aleppo after rapid government advances in recent weeks.
At least 6,000 people left under a fragile truce that started on Thursday, but evacuations stopped a day later.
Hours after the announcement of the new agreement, aid agencies were still waiting to resume the operation.
As well as east Aleppo, the deal is also said to include the evacuation of two other rebel-held towns and two towns loyal to the government.
Confusion reigned on Friday morning when the evacuation, which was taking place along corridors out of Aleppo towards rebel-held areas (Khan al-Asal and Khan Touman), was stopped.
The government said rebel fighters had fired on the convoys. Rebels said pro-government forces opened fire.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote over the weekend on a French-drafted proposal to ensure the operation is co-ordinated by international observers, with humanitarian aid allowed into Aleppo and hospitals given protection.
Correspondents say thousands of cold and hungry civilians remain stranded in the rebel-held east of the city, waiting to be moved to safety.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on all sides to provide guarantees and allow the evacuation to be completed.
“It’s important that the parties on the ground do their utmost to end this limbo,” ICRC Syria head Marianne Gasser said in the statement.
“People have suffered a lot. Please come to an agreement and help save thousands of lives.”
US President Barack Obama on Friday accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran of “atrocities”, saying the world was “united in horror” at the situation.
Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the evacuation from Foah and Kefraya, which are home to some 20,000 people, was expected to start on Saturday.
Syrian state TV, meanwhile, said starting the Idlib evacuations was the main condition for allowing the Aleppo exodus to continue.
A military news outlet run by the pro-government Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah said buses were on their way to the two towns, according to Reuters.
