Syria to ease Aleppo air campaign

Syria's military yesterday announced a surprise reduction in bombardment of rebel groups in devastated Aleppo, nearly two weeks after declaring an all-out assault to capture the city.

Syria's government announced a large-scale offensive to capture the whole city last month, ushering in a  bombing campaign that  killed more than 270 people.

But on Wednesday, Syria's military said it would reduce the bombardment "after the success of our armed forces in Aleppo and cutting off all terrorist supply routes into the eastern districts".

Meanwhile, France yesterday launched a new drive for Aleppo ceasefire. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will travel to Moscow today and Washington a day after to try to garner support for the draft, his office said.