Aleppo politician pleads for safe passage to let residents leave city

PARIS - The president of the Aleppo local council on Wednesday pleaded that a Syrian government assault on eastern Aleppo be halted to create a safe corridor for civilians to leave the besieged city.

"The civilians are calling for the world to help. In the name of humanity let the civilians leave the city. Help the civilians! Protect the civilians!," said Brita Hagi Hasan, speaking at a news conference held with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

He called for the immediate establishment of safe corridors for potentially some 250,000 civilians to leave the city.