News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Russia proposes brief truce in Aleppo

Russia has unilaterally declared a three hour daily truce in the Syrian city of Aleppo, to allow urgently needed deliveries of humanitarian aid. Reports from the city say attacks continued this morning despite the announcement. The United Nations has said it will consider the Russian offer but that a ceasefire of at least 48 hours is needed to get enough aid supplies into Aleppo. Inge Sedke from the Red Cross in Damascus says a unilateral truce is too dangerous for aid workers: “We don’t want to take the risk of having our trucks or our convoy being attacked. The assistance that we are willing to bring to the civilians won’t reach them at the end.”

Aleppo doctors appeal to US for help

Fifteen of the last 35 doctors in rebel-held eastern Aleppo have written a letter to United States president Barack Obama pleading for intervention to stop the bombardment of hospitals by Russian-backed forces. They said the US has done nothing to relieve the siege of Aleppo. Doctor Samar Atta has recently returned from the city. “You are seeing very gruesome scenes of families coming in with their children, children being bombed into pieces, you’re trying to save those you can, watching those you can’t bleed to death.” Meanwhile a toxic gas attack has been reported on a rebel-held area of Aleppo. Medical staff said four people died and many others were injured.

Russia Ukraine tensions escalate

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of plotting terrorist attacks in Crimea and says two Russian servicemen have been killed in clashes this week. Kiev has denied the allegations and says Russia is trying to create a pretext to take military action against Ukraine. Meanwhile the spokesman for Ukraine’s border guards says Russian troop numbers have increased at the border in recent days.

Germany considers anti-terror measures

Germany's interior minister Thomas de Maiziere has presented a package of measures to boost security following recent terror attacks. Proposals include stripping dual nationals who fight for extremist groups abroad of citizenship, and making it easier to deport foreigners considered dangerous.

Terror suspect shot dead

Canadian police have shot dead a terror suspect in the town of Strathroy, Ontario. Officials said they had credible information the man was preparing to carry out a suicide bombing in a public place. He was reportedly shot by police after he detonated a device.

Assange to be questioned

Ecuador says it has reached an agreement with Swedish authorities to allow the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange is wanted for questioning over a rape allegation, which he denies. He has been living inside the embassy for more than four years after Ecuador granted him asylum.

The Weather

Changeable, with scattered showers in the west. Sunny spells in the east and south. Top temperatures 13 to 21 degrees

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