The United Nations said medical evacuations from eastern Aleppo had not begun on Friday as it had hoped, as a lack of security guarantees and "facilitation" prevent aid workers taking advantage of a pause in the bombing announced by Russia. He said the government had buses and ambulances ready, but the evacuations were not happening because "terrorists" using mortars and snipers were attacking humanitarian corridors and crossing points. Russia's foreign minister says al-Qaeda-linked militants in Aleppo are refusing to leave the besieged Syrian city along humanitarian corridors created by the Russians and Syrian forces. Lavrov says Aleppo's civilians are also being prevented from leaving the eastern, rebel-held part of the city through the corridors. A pause in the Aleppo fighting was announced this week by Russia to allow civilians and opposition fighters and militants in eastern Aleppo to leave.

Source: CBC News October 21, 2016 11:48 UTC