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Conflict in Syria

Anti-Russian sanctions over Syria not discussed by EU Council — source

In a final statement on Syria, the Council of the European Union denounces indiscriminate airstrikes of government forces on Aleppo, the source said

© EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

LUXEMBOURG, October 17. /TASS/. The foreign ministers of the EU countries have made no decisions on Monday as to sanctions against Russia over Syria, but denounced air strikes on Aleppo, a source told TASS on the sidelines of a session of the Council of the European Union.

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Mogherini says no EU member state proposed sanctions on Russia over Syria

"There have been no decisions on sanctions against Russia. This issue was not discussed," the source said, adding that the ministers considered additional restrictions against Damascus for air strikes on Aleppo.

In a final statement on Syria, the Council of the European Union denounces indiscriminate airstrikes of government forces and Russian warplanes on Aleppo, the source said.

The western part of Aleppo, Syria’s second biggest city, is under control of the government forces. The eastern part is held by different armed groups, including gunmen of Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia).

According to UN estimates, there are no more than 8,000 gunmen of the opposition and about 900 militants of al-Nusra in eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo. The Syrian army blocks them to make them leave the city.

The West accuses Russian and Syrian military of indiscriminate airstrikes on Aleppo, including strikes on hospitals. Moscow dismisses these accusations as groundless. Russian military say they make only pinpoint strikes on earlier verified targets outside populated areas.

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