Kerry: Syrian rebels have surrendered Aleppo
US Secretary of State John Kerry reported in a lengthy press briefing Thursday that the Syrian rebels have surrendered in Aleppo. The evacuation of thousands of civilians has begun, assisted by aid agencies with medical care available to the injured. Russia has pledged to monitor the evacuation corridor leading out of Aleppo and Turkey has agreed to take evacuees.
Kerry called for the cessation of hostilities to be maintained and the horrific slaughter brought to an end. “We can’t have another Srebrenica,” he declared, and blamed Russia, Iran and “Lebanese, Iranian and Iraqi Shiites" for supporting Assad’s genocidal war, with some perpetrating acts in violation of the rules of war.
The Geneva conference must be recalled without delay to negotiate a peaceful solution of the five-year Syrian war, said the secretary of state. All the parties concerned agree with this – although we have not yet obtained the consent of Bashar Assad.
