Russia: US "changed their mind" on talks to withdraw Aleppo rebels

Moscow (dpa) - The United States has cancelled a bilateral meeting with Russia in Geneva to discuss the withdrawal of Western-backed rebel forces from the Syrian city of Aleppo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday."They have changed their mind," Lavrov said in comments carried by Russian state news agency TASS. The US has sent Russia a new proposal that "takes everything back to square one and looks like an attempt to gain time to let militants take a break and replenish their reserves."Russia has been the main military backer of the Syrian government, a longtime Russian ally, in what it says is an effort to restore stability to the war-torn country.The US, which has implicated Syria‘s ruling regime in crimes against humanity, including killing civilians, backs certain rebel groups seeking to overthrow the government.In recent weeks, Syrian forces have been pushing into rebel-held parts of Aleppo in an effort to take control of the city. Russia has attested that much of eastern Aleppo is held by fighters linked to the UN-designated terrorist organization al-Qaeda.Lavrov vowed on Tuesday that militants who refuse to leave eastern Aleppo "will be eradicated. There is no other solution." The minister had said previously that Russia was seeking a ceasefire for the city to allow militants to withdraw.The Syrian goverment said Tuesday that a ceasefire deal would not be considered "unless it includes the departure of all terrorists.""Syria has confirmed that it will not leave its citizens in eastern Aleppo held hostage by terrorists and will make every effort to free them," Syria‘s Foreign Ministry said in comments carried by Syrian state news agency SANA.