Russia says militants prevent civilians from leaving eastern Ghouta

MOSCOW - 2 March 2018: The Russian military said on Thursday Syrian rebels were preventing civilians in eastern Ghouta from leaving dangerous areas, the Interfax news agency reported.

Militants were violating a ceasefire agreement in five Syrian provinces and in eastern Ghouta, Interfax reported, citing Major-General Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian peace and reconciliation centre in Syria.

One civilian was killed and six wounded as a result of the militants shelling on residential areas of Damascus and its suburbs in the past 24 hours, Yevtushenko was quoted as saying.