Members of the Syrian Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, search for victims amid the rubble of a destroyed building following reported air strikes in the rebel-held Qatarji neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo, on October 17, 2016.

Russia said 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, adding the ceasefire would be on “October 20 from 0800 to 1600 (0500 GMT to 1300 GMT) in the area of Aleppo”.

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