Gunmen’s leaders hinder reconciliation in Aleppo – Haidar

Minister of State for National Reconciliation Ali Haidar has said that huge pressures are being put on gunmen by their leaders in order to prevent them from turning themselves in accordance with the amnesty offered by President Bashar al-Assad by the end of last week.

He confirmed that some gunmen from Aleppo turned themselves in -so far -and the number of abductees in the country is still 15.000, according to the Damascus-based al-Watan news paper.

The paper indicated that the minister is visiting Aleppo to discuss the issue of reconciliation there.

Five days ago, Syrian army units in cooperation with allied forces recaptured Bani Zaid neighborhood in Aleppo city from terrorists after fierce clashes.

Efrin bus station, youth housing units and all the building blocks and factories in al-Liramoun in the northern outskirts of Aleppo were also recaptured on the same day, according to the official news agency (SANA).

The agency confirmed that dozens of families left besieged eastern areas of Aleppo city along humanitarian corridors and they were taken to temporary shelters

Moving towards the south of the county, SANA reported Sunday that terrorist organizations fired shells on a reconciliation meeting held in Mothabin town, killing one person and injuring 5 others.

Locals of the town said that the terrorists’ attempts to foil the reconciliation is doomed to failure, showing determination to complete the reconciliation and to restore stability to their town and the neighboring towns.

Last Thursday, President Bashar al-Assad issued decree No. 15 for 2016 granting amnesty to all gunmen and deserters who lay down arms and surrender within three months.

Basma Qaddour