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UN envoy seeks cease-fire, end to 'carnage' in Aleppo

Edward Dark writes from Aleppo that arming the Syrian opposition will prolong the war; Iran and Russia dig in on President Bashar al-Assad.
A rebel fighter runs through dust towards an area damaged by what activists said were barrel bombs dropped by warplanes loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo's al-Shaar neighborhood November 6, 2014. REUTERS/Rami Zayat (SYRIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTR4D5I8

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura arrived in Damascus Nov. 8 to discuss a new initiative for “freezing” the war in Syria, beginning with a cease-fire and urgent humanitarian relief for Aleppo.

Speaking to UN Radio Nov. 3, de Mistura said, “If we can freeze that and show that at least Aleppo can become an area where we can provide some better life for citizens, then the focus can be, as it should be, on [the Islamic State].”

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