PRESS RELEASE

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Lavrov: Nusra Preventing Civilians from Leaving Aleppo

Oct. 21, 2016 (EIRNS)—Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke for the sixtieth time this year, by phone yesterday. During the call, Lavrov told Kerry that not only civilians but also members of illegal armed formations have been given the opportunity to leave the city without hindrance but the militants are violating the ceasefire and preventing the evacuation of the population. He stressed once again that the United States should fullfil its long-standing commitment to separate the units of the "moderate" opposition from terrorist groups.

"We are concerned that despite those goodwill gestures undertaken by Moscow and Damascus in regard to the situation in Aleppo seeking to normalize it, we see that al-Nusra Front militants are refusing to leave the city,"

Lavrov said at a press conference this morning.