UN human rights forum to hold special session on Aleppo on Friday
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on the worsening situation in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo on Friday after a formal request from Britain, a United Nations statement said. Britain made the request on behalf of a core group of 11 Western and Arab countries, including the United States and regional powers backing Syrian rebel forces.
Britain's letter to the 47-member forum said the special session was needed "following the most recent deterioration of the human rights situation in Aleppo, and the failure of the Assad regime and its allies to fulfil their international human rights commitments", the UN statement said.
Russia and Syria have halted all air strikes on eastern Aleppo, two days ahead of a planned ceasefire aimed at allowing rebels and civilians to leave the city, the Russian defence minister said on Tuesday.
