Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that "militants entrenched" in Syria's besieged enclave of eastern Ghouta are blocking aid and the evacuation of people who want to leave, despite Moscow's announcement of a humanitarian corridor.
Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the minister said Moscow would continue to support the Syrian army in totally defeating the "terrorist threat".
"We call upon the members of the so-called American coalition to ensure same humanitarian access to areas under their control, including Rukban refugee camp and the entire territory surrounding al-Tanf," Reuters cited the top diplomat as saying.
Earlier, it was reported that the second humanitarian pause in Eastern Ghouta in Syria started with a mortar attack by the militants. Reporters working in Syria witnessed the attack. After 09:00 am local time (10:00 Moscow time), the militants continued mortar and small arms fire over positions of the government forces in the humanitarian corridor in the community of Muhayam Al-Vafidin.
