Conflicting messages are coming from Syria, Turkey and Russia following the suspension of a ceasefire agreement between the latter two countries which was supposed to see tens of thousands of people evacuated from Aleppo to rebel-held Idlib.<br /><br /> Syrian government forces are now demanding opposition fighters in the besieged Shi’ite villages of Al-Foua and Kefraya should also be brought out. <br /><br /> The rebels claim Jabhat al-Sham – formerly the Al-Nusra Front – has agreed to release the wounded from the two areas and both they and Turkey have accused the government of obstruction.<br /><br /> Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said evacuations were continuing.<br />“There were fewer evacuations – only six convoys left the city. And answering the question ‘are civilians evacuated?’ Yes at this point only civilians have been evacuated.”<br /><br /> Syria’s government-run SANA news agency claims over 8,000 rebels and civilians have been brought out so far, while Russia’s Tass agency quoted a Moscow Defence official as saying the whole evacuation process has been completed.<br /><br /> The United Nations estimates some 50,000 people remain in eastern Aleppo.<br />
