UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – UN officials should be on the scene when civilians and militants leave eastern parts of the city of Aleppo, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told reporters after a Security Council meeting Tuesday.
“We would like to be present when the evacuation takes place of the civilians and we would like to be present when the armed opposition is actually withdrawing,” De Mistura said.
The diplomat added that civilians who wish to leave Aleppo along with fighters should be allowed to do so.
Addressing the Security Council earlier, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said military action in eastern Aleppo had ended now that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have re-established control of the area.
The Council met in emergency session Tuesday following reports of recently escalating violence against Aleppo’s residents as the fight to retake the city was winding down.
