Mistura.-SYRIA UN envoy urges US, Russian help on Syria ceasefire

Staffan de Mistura has called on the US and Russia to enforce a now crumbling ceasefire ahead of further peace talks. His words come just after Syrian government forces staged a devastating attack near Aleppo.

De Mistura, the UN's envoy to Syria, said on Wednesday that a ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia needs to be "revitalized" before peace talks resume next month.

His comments came after a briefing with the UN Security Council about the status of the third-round talks, which he insisted have made progress despite recent hurdles.

De Mistura said it was necessary for the US and Russia, in particular, to step up efforts to restore the ceasefire that was largely holding weeks earlier. Both countries are active players in the region and support opposing sides of the conflict.

Russia on Tuesday proposed that the UN blacklist two Syrian rebel groups - Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham - for links to Islamic militants such as the so-called "Islamic State" (IS).

Civilian deaths mount

Last week, the mainstream opposition alliance High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said it was suspending its particpation in the talks due to government forces' attacks on civilians.

Government forces under the control of President Bashar Assad carried out aerial bombardments on the northern city of Aleppo on Wednesday, killing at least 14 civilians.

Earlier, another series of air strikes killed at least 11 civilians, also in Aleppo.