UN observer mission pulls out of Syria's Aleppo due to security deterioration

DAMASCUS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) has temporarily relocated their teams from restive Aleppo due to the security deterioration in the northern city, a spokesperson told Xinhua Tuesday.

"We will send our teams back to Aleppo as soon as the conditions permit," spokesperson Juliette Touma told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, an anonymous source told Xinhua that the observers' safety was at risk due to the ongoing clashes, adding that their withdrawal took place Monday overnight.

On Monday, Lt. Gen. Babacar Gaye, head of the UNSMIS, said he is extremely alerted by the incessant violence in Syria, particularly in the northern Aleppo province.

In a brief statement, Gaye said the situation in Aleppo is deteriorating to an extreme, urging all parties to protect the civilians and honor the commitments of the international humanitarian law.

He said the civilians shouldn't be exposed to shelling or heavy weapons.

Gaye, leading the extended mandate of the UNSMIS, urged all parties to take the necessary steps to embark on a dialogue as the sole way to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and end the conflict.

The UNSMIS' concern has been expressed at a time when the intensity of the clashes in Aleppo is on the rise as the government troops and the armed rebels are fighting their fateful battle.

On Tuesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the neighborhoods of Salahuddien, Seif al- Dawla, al- Sakhour, al-Frafra, Bab al-Hadid and Bab al-Nasr in Aleppo have been under violent bombardment by the government forces, who also clashed with rebel fighters at the entrances of the Salahuddien neighborhood. It said 12 civilians were killed in Aleppo Tuesday.

However, the government media said that the Syrian troops are purging Aleppo of the Western-backed armed rebels, who were the ones to ignite the clashes in the city.

In the meantime, the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC) said that thousands of people have found shelter in 80 schoolhouses in Aleppo, adding that "with much difficulty," the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is still providing them with food and other necessities.

In Damascus, the ICRC said it has supplied the Syrian Arab Red Crescent with enough medical items to treat some 500 injured people.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the ICRC said "thousands of displaced people have no option but to stay put until they feel safe to return to their homes." Enditem