Friday, 26 February 2016

Russia Denies Bombing Ahead Of Syria Ceasefire

Explosions In Syria As Fighting Continues

Russia has denied bombing civilian positions near Damascus ahead of a planned ceasefire in Syria tonight.
President Putin's spokesman rejected claims by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) that jets had attacked the rebel-held area of Douma on Thursday night.
Dmitry Peskov called it "unconfirmed information that isn't backed up by facts".

The Britain-based SOHR said strikes on Douma continued on Friday, with some 25 targets hit, and also reported many strikes north of Aleppo.
It comes as dozens of Syria's opposition and rebel groups said they would abide by the truce scheduled to begin at midnight on Friday (10pm GMT).
boy called Mohammed pulled from Aleppo rubble
The rebel alliance, known as the High Negotiations Committee, said 97 opposition factions had agreed to the cessation of hostilities and that it had formed a military committee to follow up on the truce.
The alliance said it would initially accept the truce for two weeks.
Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, reiterated at a meeting of officials on Friday that his forces would continue attacking terrorist groups Islamic State and the al Nusra Front - who are not included in the truce.
Mr Putin said the "decisive fight against them will certainly continue", according to the country's Tass news service.
Russia began strikes in September, stating it would only target terrorists, but critics say it is also attacking Syria's opposition groups and helping turn the tide of the civil war.
US President Barack Obama said he is doing everything to ensure the ceasefire between rebels and Syrian government forces goes ahead.
"None of us are under any illusions," he said.
"We're all aware of the many potential pitfalls, and there are plenty of reasons for scepticism, but history would judge us harshly if we did not do our part in at least trying to end this terrible conflict with diplomacy.
"If implemented - and that's a significant if - this cessation could reduce the violence and get more food and aid to Syrians who are suffering and desperately need it."
The Syrian government said it would abide by the truce but retains the right to retaliate for any attacks.

A previous agreement was due to begin last Friday but appeared not to have been observed by some fighting groups and, on Sunday, at least 140 people were killed in car bombings in Homs and Damascus.

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