UN to vote on Aleppo ceasefire resolution

The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution demanding a temporary ceasefire in Aleppo and humanitarian access to residents trapped in the fighting, NDTV quoted diplomats as saying on Sunday.

Egypt, New Zealand and Spain drew up the text calling for a truce of at least seven days following lengthy negotiations with a highly resistant Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Spain has just taken over the council's rotating presidency for the month of December.

Despite concessions by the resolution's drafters - an early version demanded a 10-day truce - it remains uncertain whether Moscow will use its veto in the council to torpedo the measure.

Russia had proposed a renewable truce of only 24 hours, and for militant groups such as the Al-Nusra Front to be excluded.

The draft resolution stipulates that "all parties to the Syrian conflict shall immediately cease any attacks in the city of Aleppo to allow urgent humanitarian needs to be addressed" for an initial period of seven days that could be extended.

It also calls for allowing relief supplies to reach the tens of thousands of residents under siege inside the rebel-held eastern part of the city.

The resolution envisages the temporary ceasefire developing into a cessation of hostilities across Syria.

In a parallel move, Canada - acting on behalf of 74 of the UN's 193 member countries - has requested a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly to vote on another resolution on humanitarian aid in Aleppo.

Source: MENA