Evacuation from east Aleppo suspended: Syrian official

ALEPPO

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The evacuation of people from eastern Aleppo was suspended on Dec. 16, with a witness quoted by Reuters hearing at least four blasts at a location from which buses had been departing.

A state-run Syrian TV station reported that rebels had breached an agreement with the government by trying to take prisoners with them during the evacuation.

A Syrian official overseeing the evacuation told Reuters that it had been “obstructed.”

Meanwhile, Iran-backed Shiite militias took 800 people hostage from the convoy, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. 
The evacuation of wounded civilians and rebels from besieged parts of Aleppo started on Dec. 14, amid diplomatic efforts by Turkey and Russia and concerns over the implementation of a cease-fire that would end years of fighting in the city.