France and Russia reach Aleppo deal to evacuate civilians and stop 'mass atrocities'

France has struck a compromise with Russia on a United Nations resolution that it said would prevent "mass atrocities" in besieged areas of Aleppo, Syria, where thousands of trapped civilians and rebel fighters await evacuation in freezing temperatures.

On the ground, prospects for swift evacuations from Aleppo and other war-torn areas were thrown into doubt again on Sunday after militants burned buses assigned to the rescue operation, although one convoy of five buses was reported to have reached safety from the city later that night.