Assad regime, other groups derailing truce: Turkish FM

ANKARA (AA) – The Syrian regime and allied groups have been trying to derail the Aleppo cease-fire meant to allow the evacuation of civilians from the eastern part of the city, Turkey’s foreign minister said Wednesday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that the Syrian regime forces and allied militias had violated the cease-fire with opposition groups that began at 07.00 p.m. local time (1600GMT) Tuesday evening.

Cavusoglu added, however, that negotiations between Russia and Turkey are ongoing.

“We had discussions with [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov last night. Today we also will talk with Iran’s foreign minister and Lavrov at noon. And I hope that everyone will observe it [the truce], and that under it, the brutality and persecution will stop,” Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu confirmed that people will be evacuated to camps that will be established in Turkey, Aleppo, and northern Syria.

According to an Anadolu Agency reporter, regime forces bombed -- around 10:30 local time -- several residential areas in opposition-held neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo.

Violence has recently escalated in the city as Syrian regime forces advanced into opposition-held parts of eastern Aleppo on Monday following a five-month siege and persistent aerial bombardments.

The Russia-backed Bashar al-Assad regime had been trying to reestablish control over parts of Aleppo captured four years ago by armed opposition groups.