Kerry, diplomats seek help for Aleppo's opposition
US Secretary of State John Kerry and leading diplomats pleaded Saturday for safe passage for civilians and respect for Syria's crippled opposition, as Syrian government forces neared victory over rebels in Aleppo after a devastating blitz.
With tens of thousands fleeing and prospects increasingly grim for the Western-backed opposition, Kerry insisted that even if Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces conquer Aleppo, "war will not end," because its underlying causes remain unresolved.
Kerry and European and Arab diplomats, meeting Saturday in Paris with Syrian opposition leaders, called for a cease-fire and prepared for a post-battle plan. They agreed on the need to guarantee that civilians can get much needed food and medical aid after intense bombing, and to ensure that opposition members aren't executed or abused, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said.
