Erdogan, Putin agree Aleppo ceasefire violations must stop: Turkish source

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday in a phone call that violations of a ceasefire deal agreed for the Syrian city of Aleppo should stop, Turkish presidential sources said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday in a phone call that violations of a ceasefire deal agreed for the Syrian city of Aleppo should stop, Turkish presidential sources said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul in October 2016. (AFP File Photo)

“In the phone call, they stressed that the ceasefire agreement secured yesterday (Tuesday) night should be put into practice (and) the violations of the deal must be stopped,” the sources said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov confirmed to RIA Novosti state news agency that the call took place.

Turkey, Russia and Syrian rebel groups on Tuesday confirmed an agreement had been reached for civilians and opposition fighters to leave Aleppo.

Read | ‘Aleppo battle over’: Civilians, rebels to evacuate as Syrian army takes control

If implemented, the deal would mark the end of opposition resistance in Syria’s second city after years of fighting, and a major victory for Moscow ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

But the deal appeared to be in danger of falling apart after shelling and air strikes resumed in Aleppo on Wednesday.

Read | Air strikes hit Aleppo as rescue deal on hold, reports of ‘human shields’ emerge

During the call, the presidents reaffirmed their commitment to start the evacuation of civilians and rebels via safe corridors “as soon as possible”, the Turkish sources said.

Erdogan told Putin that Ankara was ready to take all necessary measures to provide humanitarian aid and temporary housing following the opening of safe corridors, the sources added.