BEIRUT: A Russia-declared unilateral ceasefire is to take hold in Syria’s Aleppo Friday even as rebels stepped up a week-old assault to break a government siege of the city’s eastern districts. The 10-hour “humanitarian pause” was announced on Wednesday, and it was to start at 0700 GMT (3:00 pm in the Philippines) on Friday. The pause is the second declared by Moscow in less than a month after a three-day ceasefire in late October failed to encourage civilians and rebels to leave rebel-held east Aleppo. The chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said Friday’s pause was meant to “prevent senseless casualties” by allowing civilians and combatants out of east Aleppo. State media said at least 12 people were killed in rebel rocket and gunfire on Aleppo’s western neighborhoods.

Source: Manila Times November 04, 2016 12:09 UTC