Syrian forces retake half of rebel areas in east Aleppo

Syria's army now controls more than half of previously rebel-held areas in east Aleppo after another district was seized.


Government troops backed by Russia recaptured Tariq al-Bab after heavy pounding on Friday night, according to a British-based monitoring group.


The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombings in the al-Shaar neighbourhood killed three people.


However, the Syrian Civil Defence has put the number of dead at six.


The advancement opens the road leading from government-controlled areas to the international airport just outside Aleppo.


Since president Bashar al-Assad's regime began its latest offensive in mid-November, tens of thousands of people have fled the battered city.


According to the observatory, more than 300 people have been killed in the government's assault on east Aleppo in the past three weeks.


Rebels have struggled to hold back government ground forces, who have advanced backed by airstrikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire.


The government has trumpeted its gains, and on Saturday state television showed buses full of residents going from west Aleppo back to their homes in neighbourhoods retaken by the army.


State media has also reported from recaptured areas this week.


More than 300,000 people have been killed since the conflict started in March 2011, and more than half the country's population has been displaced.


The escalating violence has been met with international outrage, including a UN warning east Aleppo could become "a giant graveyard".


Moscow has proposed setting up four humanitarian corridors into east Aleppo, something Syrian rebels have said they "have no problem". But they will not leave the city.


Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that Moscow was ready for talks with the US about a complete withdrawal of all rebels from eastern Aleppo.


His comments follow talks between the two countries which took place in Rome last week aimed at breaking the diplomatic deadlock.


US Secretary of State John Kerry said a number of "ideas" had been put forward which would be examined at follow-up discussions next week.


He stressed both countries regarded the situation as urgent and would not wait for US President-elect Donald Trump to take office next month.


"We have exchanged a set of ideas, which there will be a meeting on early next week in Geneva, and we have to wait and see whether those ideas have any legs to them," Mr Kerry said.


The US has accused Russia of war crimes in Syria and blamed it for the failure to get desperately needed aid through to Aleppo residents.


But Mr Lavrov said the US and the UN were responsible for the current situation.


He said the US had failed to separate so-called "moderate" rebel groups from the al Qaeda fighters that Russia says it is targeting.