New York [USA]: United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday urged Russia and the Syrian regime to take steps toward finding a political solution to the conflict and called for a ceasefire saying the fall of Aleppo would not mean an end to war.
In a speech after a meeting of Foreign Ministers in Paris, Kerry said the Syrian Government and Russia must provide guarantee to opposition fighters in Aleppo that they won’t be “marching into a massacre” if there is a ceasefire, reports the CNN.
The Paris meeting came ahead of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, between US and Russian officials on the situation in Aleppo, where an estimated 100,000 people are trapped in dire conditions in a shrinking rebel-held area as Syrian regime forces advance.
Speaking alongside the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Qatar, Kerry reiterated that civilians must be given safe passage out of Aleppo and humanitarian aid allowed in.
Kerry urged both Russia and the regime to “show a little grace” to find a mediated solution, warning that if Aleppo were to fall, it would not mean an end to the war but would risk emboldening extremist forces in the country.
He also warned the Syrian regime was committing war crimes in its bombardment of eastern Aleppo.
“The indiscriminate bombing by the regime which violates international rules of war — in many cases crimes, crimes against humanity, and war crimes — needs to stop,” he said. (ANI)