MESOP SYRIA : PUTIN BACK ON STAGE

The humanitarian evacuations, which were the result of long negotiations, UN Humanitarian spokesperson Egeland said, come as the ceasefire that has reduced the violence in Syria for the past two months erodes further. Russia has reportedly begun shifting Russian-crewed artillery toward frontlines near Aleppo and in Latakia province. Russia has also increased the number of airstrikes it is conducting in Syria, though this remains well below its pre-ceasefire tempo. U.S. officials have said the conflict could escalate in dangerous ways, and CIA Director John Brennan has warned Russian officials that the United States and other nations that support the rebels have plans to supply groups with anti-artillery and antiaircraft weapons if the ceasefire collapses completely. More www.mesop.de