Clashes, artillery fire in Aleppo after truce expires

Heavy clashes between regime and rebel forces erupted in several areas of Syria's divided Aleppo city late today after a unilateral ceasefire announced by government ally Russia expired, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fierce fighting in several areas along the front line dividing the city, as well as exchanges of artillery fire.

An AFP correspondent in the rebel-held east of the city also reported sounds of fighting and artillery fire.

The clashes came after the truce in the Syrian army's Russian-backed assault on Aleppo's rebel districts appeared to expire, with the United Nations saying it had been unable to evacuate anyone from the ravaged city.

Moscow had extended the unilateral "humanitarian pause" into a third day until 1600 GMT today, but announced no further renewal of the truce despite a UN request for longer to evacuate wounded civilians.

Neither residents nor rebels in the opposition-held eastern Aleppo heeded calls from Syria's army and Moscow to leave, after weeks of devastating bombardment and a three-month government siege.

Nearly 500 people have been killed and more than 2,000 civilians have been wounded since the army launched its offensive to drive the rebels out of eastern districts they have held since 2012.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the war started in 2011 with anti-government protests.