Obama, Merkel Condemn Russian, Syrian Air Strikes In Aleppo : White House

Washington, 28 Dzulhijjah 1437/30 September 2016 (MINA) – US President Barack Obama and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly condemned as “barbarous” the Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on eastern Aleppo, Kuna reported.

Both made the comments over the phone as they discussed the situations in both Syria and Ukraine, according to a White House statement on Thursday.

“Eastern Aleppo is an area populated with hundreds of thousands of civilians, half of whom are children,” read the statement.

They agreed Russia and the Syrian regime bear “special responsibility for ending the fighting in Syria and granting the UN humanitarian access to besieged and hard to reach areas in Syria.”

About Ukraine, President Obama expressed strong support of the Normandy Group, led by Germany and France, in their ongoing efforts to push forward a rapid and full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

Both leaders urged the parties to continue respecting the cease-fire, begin withdrawal along the line of contact as quickly as possible, and provide international monitors unfettered access to the entire conflict zone. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic NewsAgency (MINA)