Eastern Aleppo evacuations still suspended amid Shiite villages dispute

Evacuations from eastern Aleppo remain suspended until rebels allow residents of two besieged Shiite villages to leave to government-controlled areas, according to Syrian state TV.

The channel's correspondent, speaking from Aleppo on Saturday, said the main condition for the Aleppo evacuation to resume is for residents of Foua and Kfarya to be allowed to leave.

The opposition's Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the evacuation of some 4,000 people, including wounded, from the villages could start on Saturday.

The Aleppo evacuation was suspended on Friday after a report of shooting at a crossing point into the enclave. Thousands were evacuated before the operation was suspended.

The Syrian government said the village evacuations and the one in eastern Aleppo must be done simultaneously, but the rebels say there is no connection.

AP