Vladimir Putin offers new humanitarian pause in Aleppo
Vladimir Putin has offered a new humanitarian pause in Aleppo, urging rebels to use it to leave besieged eastern districts of the Syrian city.
The Russian defence ministry said the president has ordered that the aid corridors, which Moscow opened earlier, also be opened on Friday - for longer hours, from 9am to 7pm - along with two new exit routes for the rebels to leave eastern Aleppo.
The ministry announced Mr Putin's new gesture in a statement today.
The statement said the exits will be open on Friday for civilians and rebels, "to prevent a senseless loss of life".
It also said the rebel offensive on government-held districts in western Aleppo, launched last week, has failed to break through the siege.
