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U.N. Envoy to Hold Talks in Syria Saturday

U.N. peace envoy Staffan de Mistura will travel to Syria on Saturday for talks on his plan to halt fighting in the northern city of Aleppo, the U.N. spokesman said.

"He will be heading to Damascus on Saturday to meet with senior Syrian government officials to follow up, obviously, on the cessation of hostilities and to have further consultations," Stephane Dujarric said Thursday.

The Syrian al-Watan newspaper reported earlier that De Mistura would arrive in Damascus on Friday for talks with Syrian foreign ministry officials.

The special envoy told the U.N. Security Council last week that the Syrian regime was willing to suspend air bombings for six weeks in Aleppo, which is divided into regime and rebel-held areas.

Rebel fighters, who have no air power, would be asked to suspend rocket and mortar fire for six weeks.

At least 210,000 people have been killed in the nearly four-year war in Syria, and close to 12 million have been displaced including 3.8 million who have fled to neighboring countries.

Source: Agence France Presse


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