Pope calls for ​"immediate ceasefire" in Syria

Pope Francis on Wednesday called for an "immediate ceasefire" in Syria to allow for the evacuation of civilians.

 

Francis, speaking to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square at his weekly general audience, said he wanted to ​"implore with all my strength​" leaders to spare ​"civilians, especially children, who are still trapped by cruel bombardments."

 

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Tuesday, Russian jets had resumed heavy bombing of rebel-held eastern Aleppo after several days of relative calm.

The Observatory said the death toll from bombing in Bustan al-Qasr, Fardous and other neighborhoods rose to at least 25, with scores of wounded.

At least 50 civilians  were killed by strikes on the rebel-held part of the city and nearby villages controlled by insurgents, residents and rescue workers said. In Bustan al Qasr, residents said, the strikes hit a medical centre and a children's playground.

 

 

REUTERS