Army suspends Aleppo fighting due to Syria conflict

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Syria's army has suspended combat operations in eastern Aleppo. The move is to allow for the evacuation of civilians trapped in the battle zone. 

Mr Lavrov said some 8,000 people would be taken out. Government forces have retaken 75 per cent of east Aleppo in recent weeks, areas rebels had controlled for four years. 

The US welcomed the indication that something positive could happen. Mr Lavrov said on



the sidelines of a European Foreign Ministers meeting in German that Russian and US military experts would meet in Geneva tomorrow to discuss ways of bringing an end to the violence in Aleppo.

A US state department spokeswoman confirmed Mr Lavrov had spoken to John Kerry and both had agreed to discuss a ceasefire that allows for the delivery of aid and the departure of civilians, but the specific nature of tomorrow's technical talks are still to be worked out.