ALEPPO: Russia announced Friday it was negotiating with the Syrian opposition and seeking a nationwide ceasefire, as the evacuation of civilians and fighters from the last rebel-held parts of Aleppo entered a second day.
President Vladimir Putin’s intervention came as Russian drones and troops supervised the hard-won evacuation deal following a Western outcry over the Syrian army’s operation to recapture the city.
Thousands of traumatised civilians boarded buses and ambulances in freezing temperatures as the operation continued through the night.
“The next step (after Aleppo) will be to reach agreement on a complete ceasefire across all of Syria,” Putin said on the sidelines of a visit to Japan.
“We are actively negotiating with members of the armed opposition, with the mediation of Turkey.”
Government ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey jointly brokered the deal that has seen thousands of people cram into buses, ambulances and pick-up trucks to flee the last pocket of rebel-held Aleppo since Thursday.
The evacuation deal, which will allow Syria’s government to claim full control of the city after years of fighting, was expected to continue throughout Friday.
