Russia says rebels shell exit corridor in Syria's Ghouta

BEIRUT – The Russian military on Thursday accused Syria's rebels of shelling a humanitarian corridor that Moscow set up with the Syrian government, offering residents of Damascus' besieged eastern suburbs a way out of the embattled enclave.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a five-hour daily humanitarian pause to allow civilians to exit the region. The daily pauses began on Tuesday but so far, no humanitarian aid has gone in -- and no civilians have left the area, known as eastern Ghouta.

The eastern suburbs—a cluster of several towns and villages on Damascus' eastern edge—have faced a deadly and brutal onslaught for weeks by Syrian government troops, backed by Russia.

Residents say they do not trust the truce and the UN and aid agencies have criticized the unilateral arrangement, saying it gave no guarantees of safety for residents wishing to leave.