US and Russia in fresh Syria ceasefire talks

Fresh talks have started between the United States and Russia over the possible revival of a ceasefire in Syria.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are meeting diplomats from Turkey, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Leading charities have issued a joint plea for a ceasefire of at least three days, to allow time for food and medical aid to enter war-torn Aleppo.

But officials have played down hopes of a new truce, with Mr Lavrov telling reporters on Friday he had no "special expectations" of progress. 

A French diplomatic source told AFP that he was "sceptical" about the talks. 

Meanwhile, a leading Syrian opposition group claimed the meetings "will only lead to wasting more time".

Abdal Ahad Stefo, deputy head of the Istanbul-based National Coalition opposition body, said: "The absence of Syrians from these preparatory meetings is one of the problems that has complicated and confused (the path to) a political solution.

"The common denominator among all the meetings that have been held since 2012...until now is the absence of Syrians and a monopolisation by the United States and Russia."

Since the collapse of the ceasefire between rebels and pro-government forces in September, Aleppo has been bombarded by forces supporting Bashar al Assad, including the Russian air force.

The Syrian President told Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda that he would use advances in the city as a launch pad.    

He said: "It's going to be the springboard, as a big city, to move to other areas, to liberate other areas from the terrorists".

Rebel held districts in east Aleppo were hit by intense air strikes on Saturday, according to UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The monitor said that since the assault began on 22 September more than 370 people, including nearly 70 children, have been killed in the besieged part of the city.

The intensified conflict has put increasing strain on rescue workers in Aleppo.

Ibrahim Abu al-Leith, a spokesman for the White Helmets rescue force, said: "This recent escalation has been huge and we've had a lot of work."

He said rescuers were still working to save people from under the rubble in the Tariq al-Bab eastern district.