Theresa May unites with world leaders to condemn Russia and Syria for attacks on war-torn city of Aleppo
The PM issued a joint statement with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and other world leaders to demand a ceasefire so aid can reach the city
THERESA MAY has joined with leaders across the West to condemn the actions of Syria's Government in obstructing the supply of aid to Aleppo.
The PM united with the leaders of the US, Canada, France, Germany and Italy to issue a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire so that aid can get into the besieged city.
Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and other leaders condemned Russia and Syria for its role in the disaster.
Syrian Government forces, backed by Russia, have been bombing rebel-held areas, and aid has been unable to reach it.
The statement said 200,000 civilians, many of them children, had been cut off from the eastern part of the city.
“Aleppo is being subjected to daily bombings and artillery attacks by the Syrian regime, supported by Russia and Iran,”
“Hospitals and schools have not been spared. Rather, they appear to be the targets of attack in an attempt to wear people down.
"The images of dying children are heart-breaking.”
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In a sign that leaders are ready to toughen their stance on Syria and Russia, the statement said they were "ready to consider additional restrictive measures against individuals and entities that act for on behalf of the Syrian regime."
They said that Russia was blocking attempts to take action in the UN to end the atrocities, and they were unwilling to engage in the correct political processes to find a solution.
"Only a political settlement can bring peace for people in Syria," the statement said.
The leaders highlighted remarks from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said that war crimes had been committed, and urged more investigation.
Mrs May and others said "there must be no impunity for those responsible".
"We condemn the actions of the Syrian regime and its foreign backers, especially Russia, for their obstruction of humanitarian aid, and strongly condemn the Syrian regime's attacks that have devastated civilians and medical facilities and use of barrel bombs and chemical weapons," it added.