Pause in Aleppo bombing holds

A pause in Russian and Syrian strikes on Aleppo held into a second day yesterday, ahead of a brief ceasefire aimed at allowing civilians and rebels to quit the devastated city.

The halt came ahead of talks in Berlin between the Russian, French, and German leaders on Syria's five-year conflict.

Moscow is backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime in its war with a wide range of rebel groups, including with air strikes in the divided northern city of Aleppo.

Under growing international pressure over the devastation and civilian deaths caused by strikes, Moscow announced early Tuesday that Russian and Syrian warplanes would stop bombing rebel-held parts of the city to pave the way for a "humanitarian pause".

That window, starting at 0500 GMT today and due to last eight hours, is expected to see all fighting stop to allow civilians and rebels to exit opposition-held districts via six corridors.

An estimated 250,000 people live in Aleppo's eastern districts and have been under near-continuous government siege since July.

Moscow's offer was initially met with scepticism, but the bombing halt held for its first 24 hours, reported several groups on the ground.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Berlin later yesterday to discuss the ceasefire plans.

Speaking of the "disastrous" situation in Aleppo, Merkel said she and Hollande would speak to Putin but that "we cannot expect miracles".