Istanbul Protest blames Iran for cease-fire deal failure
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This frame grab from video provided by the Beirut-based pan-Arab satellite channel Al Mayadeen, which is close to the Syrian government, broadcast on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, shows explosions followed by plumes of smoke, in East Aleppo, Syria. A cease-fire deal between rebels and the Syrian government in the city of Aleppo has effectively collapsed with fighter jets resuming their devastating air raids over the opposition’s densely crowded enclave in the east of the city. The attacks threaten plans to evacuate the rebels and tens of thousands of civilians out of harm’s way, in what would seal the opposition’s surrender of the city. (Al Mayadeen TV, via AP) Hundreds of Turkish and Syrian demonstrators assembled outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul to blame Tehran for the failed start of a cease-fire deal that aimed to stop the bloodbath in Syria’s Aleppo.
The demonstrators shouted “Killer Iran, get out of Syria!” and held up banners that read “Save Aleppo” on Wednesday night.
A cease-fire to evacuate rebels and civilians from remaining opposition-held neighborhoods of Aleppo unraveled earlier in the day.
While the demonstration was happening in Istanbul, rebel groups said the deal was back on and would take effect early Thursday.
Turkey, opposition activists and rebels say Iran was largely responsible for the initial failure of the evacuation deal as Tehran imposed new conditions in exchange for safe passage out of eastern Aleppo.
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