Arab League chief calls for urgent ceasefire in Aleppo

By Khalid Ibrahim

CAIRO (AA) – Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire to stop the "crimes and atrocities" reportedly being committed by the Syrian regime in Aleppo.

"All parties must respect international humanitarian law and immediately stop committing atrocities that cannot be accepted or tolerated," Aboul-Gheit declared in Cairo.

"What the [Syrian] regime and allied militias are doing in Aleppo reeks of revenge," he declared. "The international community should assume its responsibilities in this regard."

"As we do not have a major influence on the Syrian crisis, we will continue to draw everyone's attention to the suffering of this steadfast people," he added.

"We will get in touch with concerned parties with a view to stopping the bloodshed and atrocities being committed there," Aboul-Gheit said.

On Monday, Syrian regime forces advanced into opposition-held parts of eastern Aleppo following a five-month siege and persistent aerial bombardments.

Over the course of the last 27 days, an estimated 990 civilians have been killed in eastern Aleppo in attacks by the regime and its allies, according to sources based in the city.