Aleppo residents wait for safe exit as world protests their situation
There are protests around the world as Aleppo's residents look set to spend another night waiting to be helped to safety.
Saturday 17 December 2016 23:14, UK
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![A Syrian boy lights candles and write the word 'Aleppo' during a demonstration in support of the inhabitants of the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo, in Thessaloniki, on December 16, 2016]()
Image: People around the world have been protesting against the situation in Aleppo, such as this boy in Thessaloniki, Greece -
![Israelis stage a protest condemning the killing of civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo, on December 16, 2016 near the official residence of the Israeli prime minister in Jerusalem]()
Image: Israelis in Jerusalem protested against the killing of civilians in the Syrian city -
![Protesters shout slogans and hold placards reading 'Aleppo can not be left under bombardment' during a demonstration in Reyhanli in Hatay near the Syrian border on December 17, 2016. Thousands of trapped civilians and rebels waited desperately for evacuations to resume from the last opposition-held areas of Aleppo after the operation was suspended by the Syrian regime]()
Image: People held placards reading 'Aleppo can not be left under bombardment' at this protest in Reyhanli, Turkey -
![Doctors and nurses from public health charity Medact, before holding a 'die-in', outside the Houses of Parliament, London, in response to the ongoing impact of the Syrian conflict on civilians and health workers]()
Image: Doctors and nurses from charity Medact gathered in London to protest the treatment of medics in the besieged Syrian city -
![Protesters hold Syrian opposition flags and chant slogans during a sit-in, in solidarity with the people of Aleppo against the Syrian regime, in front of the UNDP office in Amman, Jordan, December 17, 2016]()
Image: Protesters held Syrian opposition flags in front of the UNDP office in Amman, Jordan -
![A person holds a banner during a demonstration for peace in Syria and against bombings on Aleppo in front of the Reichstag building which houses Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament, on December 17, 2016 in Berlin]()
Image: There were also demonstrations in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany -
![Syrians living in Turkey hold Syrian opposition flags during a protest against the Syrian regime along Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on December 17, 2016. Thousands of trapped civilians and rebels waited desperately for evacuations to resume from the last opposition-held areas of Aleppo after the operation was suspended by the Syrian regime]()
Image: Syrians living in Turkey held Syrian opposition flags during a protest along Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul -
![Syrian demonstrators protest near the Iranian Embassy against Iranian involvement in the siege of Aleppo, on December 17, 2016 in Paris, the latest in a series of demonstrations in Europe over the Syria crisis. Protests have been staged in several European cities as the horror in Aleppo has unfolded, with reports of atrocities including summary executions]()
Image: In Paris, they gathered near the Iranian Embassy, protesting against Iranian involvement in the siege -
![Pakistani Muslim students, shout slogans during a demonstration in Islamabad on December 16, 2016, against the ongoing conflict in Syria. The Syrian government on December 16, has suspended an operation to evacuate civilians and fighters from the last rebel-held parts of Aleppo, accusing the opposition of violating the deal, a security source said]()
Image: Pakistani Muslim students demonstrated in Islamabad against the ongoing conflict -
![A Malaysian Muslim woman holds a placard during a demonstration in solidarity with the inhabitants of the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo, outside the Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on December 16 , 2016. Russia announced it was negotiating with the Syrian opposition and seeking a nationwide ceasefire, as the evacuation of civilians and fighters from the last rebel-held parts of Aleppo entered a second day]()
Image: In the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, protesters gathered outside the Russian Embassy -
![People in London protesting against the worsening situation in Aleppo. Pic: @paul_pemberton]()
Image: Syria Solidarity Campaign organised a march through central London. Pic: @paul_pemberton -
![A man holds a banner as a child lights a candle in front of the Kosovo national theater on December 17, 2016 during a protest in support to Aleppo's population, the latest in a series of demonstrations in Europe over the Syria crisis]()
Image: A man holds a banner as a child lights a candle in front of the Kosovo national theatre
Thousands of Aleppo residents are facing another night stuck in the besieged city's near-freezing temperatures, despite government assurances that they would be able to leave.
More than 40,000 people are desperate to flee the city as aid workers plead for their safe passage and reports emerge of civilians being executed by pro-government forces.
Ishmael al Abdullah, of the Syria Civil Defence group the White Helmets,
He said: "Yesterday, they opened fire on the people who were trying to escape from this hell - they killed three people.
"Assad mercenaries killed the three people in cold blood in front of the Red Crescent and all the guys who witnessed that crime… Now we are waiting for the new deal.
"Up to now we do not trust anyone. Up till now we haven't seen any deal and no one saw up to now the green buses (used to take civilians out of Aleppo)."
The United Nations Security Council will vote on Sunday on sending observers to the city.
Both sides claimed on Saturday to have reached a deal allowing the evacuation of civilians but the rebels blamed Iran and its Shia militias for holding up the process.
They also urged Russia - which has backed the Syrian government of Bashar al Assad - to live up to its commitment and implement the deal.
The Saudis also blamed Iran, accusing it of meddling in Syria to expand its influence in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia, which is a powerful supporter of the rebels, called for an immediate end to what it said were war crimes by Assad's forces.
A foreign ministry official quoted by the Saudi state news agency SPA said: "It is by far the worst humanitarian tragedy of the beginning of the 21st century unfolding before the international community's eyes.
"The horrific massacres perpetrated in Aleppo... have amounted to war crimes against humanity."
Meanwhile, people in cities around the world have been protesting against the situation in Aleppo, with demonstrations in places such as Paris, Berlin, Amman and Kuala Lumpur.
In London, public health charity Medact staged a "die-in", with medics lying down on the pavement outside the Houses of Parliament to protest against the attacks on healthcare facilities in Aleppo.
Since the Syrian war began five years ago, the group said there have been more than 382 attacks on 269 healthcare facilities, with more than 126 attacks this year alone.
Also in London, a march was organised by Syria Solidarity Campaign through the city centre towards Downing Street.