The evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters from eastern Aleppo in Syria has come to a halt.
Russia, which backs the Syrian government, says the operation to remove fighters and their families from the area is “complete”.

But a Syrian military source told AFP news agency the evacuation had only been “suspended”.

At least 6,000 people have left the city since Thursday but the UN says at least 50,000 are still trapped.

Pro-government forces have taken nearly all rebel-held districts in eastern Aleppo.

A deal was reached earlier this week to allow people to leave the besieged neighbourhoods and travel to rebel-held areas in Idlib province.

But violence appeared to resume on Friday, with Russia saying the Syrian army had been “liquidating the last isolated pockets of resistance”.

Four years of vicious fighting in eastern Aleppo have left thousands dead, destroyed hospitals and wiped out food supplies.

Children sit with their baggage during the evacuation, Aleppo, Syria, 15 December 2016Image copyrightEPA
Aid agencies say there is still a high number of civilians – including children – trying to get out
There are conflicting reports about the status of the evacuation operation from the remaining rebel enclaves in Aleppo.

According to the Russian defence ministry, all militants and their family members have left and the operation is complete. All women and children have also been taken out of the districts, it says, making a total of at least 9,500 evacuees.

However, aid agencies believe thousands of people remain trapped and have called for the evacuation operation to resume.

“We urge the parties to ensure it can be relaunched and proceed in the right conditions,” Robert Mardini, regional director for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said in a tweet.

Source: BBC