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Syrian Foreign Minister Rejects UN Proposal for 'Autonomous Zone' in
Rebel-held Aleppo

by Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO --

   Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem says his government is
   "totally opposed" to a proposal by U.N. envoy Stefan de Mistura for an
   "autonomous zone" in the opposition-controlled east of Aleppo.

   Muallem met with U.N. envoy de Mistura as the government's offensive,
   combined with Russian airstrikes, continued Sunday against rebel-held
   eastern Aleppo. Rebel fighters shelled government-controlled districts
   of the city, with casualties reported on both sides.

   A view shows the damage outside a school after shelling by Syrian
   rebels on government-held western Aleppo, Syria in this handout picture
   provided by SANA on Nov. 20, 2016.

   Muallem told journalists his government opposes the U.N. envoy's
   proposal for a self-governing zone in eastern Aleppo.

   He says de Mistura's suggestion is totally rejected by the government
   because it infringes on Syria's national sovereignty and deters the
   fight against terrorism.

   This image released by Thiqa News Agency shows smoke rising and fires
   still burning after airstrikes hit the al-Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo,
   Syria, Friday, Nov. 18, 2016.

   Muallem insisted the rebels, whom he called "terrorists," must withdraw
   from the east of the city in order to put an end to the suffering of
   its citizens. The government claims Islamic militias are demanding
   civilians pay $150 each to leave the "rebel" sector.

   Rebel fighters ride a pick-up truck with civilians who fled areas of
   conflict in Dahiyet al-Assad, west Aleppo city, Syria, Oct. 30, 2016.

   The veteran Syrian foreign minister insists his government is committed
   to fighting the Islamic State group, but he blasted U.S.-Turkish
   efforts to fight IS in the north of the country.

   He denounced what he called an agreement between U.S. and Turkish
   military commanders over the future of the city of Raqqa and who would
   control it after IS is pushed out. He insists Syria will not accept the
   presence of a single Turkish soldier on its soil.

   'Positive changes'
   Muallem said there were, what he called, "positive changes" in the
   international arena, in a vague allusion to the recent election of U.S.
   President-elect Donald Trump. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called
   Trump a "natural ally" in the fight against terrorism in a TV interview
   several days ago.

   In a meeting Sunday with France's Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault,
   former Syrian prime minister Riyadh Hijab, now an opposition
   negotiator, urged an end to the offensive on eastern Aleppo by
   government forces, Russia and Iran.

   He calls the situation in eastern Aleppo "catastrophic", and urges the
   international community to pressure Russia and Iran to stop their
   offensive.

   U.N. envoy Stefan de Mistura told the Guardian newspaper the Syrian
   government was pursuing a "pyrrhic victory" in Aleppo if it fails to
   reach a political solution with the opposition.