Moscow announces eight-hour Aleppo ceasefire

Russia said on Monday its forces and Syrian regime troops would briefly halt fire in Aleppo on Thursday, in an announcement coinciding with mounting criticism of the assault on the Syrian city.

"We have taken a decision not to waste time and to introduce 'humanitarian pauses', mainly for the free passage of civilians, evacuation of the sick and wounded and withdrawal of fighters," senior Russian military officer Sergei Rudskoi said at a briefing.

He added the ceasefire would be on "October 20 from 0800 to 1600 (0500 GMT to 1300 GMT) in the area of Aleppo".

On Sunday, the US and Britain threatened to impose new economic sanctions on Syria and Russia over the devastating siege of Aleppo.

Since a US-Russian brokered ceasefire ended on September 19, 114 children have died and a further 321 have been injured in Syrian and Russian airstrikes, the vast majority in rebel-held east Aleppo, according to statistics from Doctors Without Borders (MSF).