Syrian government making gains in Aleppo as Russia and China block truce
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Dan Rivers
Government forces in Aleppo have gained more ground in the battle for the besieged city, as Russia and China blocked a draft resolution for a seven-day ceasefire.
Syrian government forces seized the Qadi Askar neighbourhood on Sunday night, meaning they are now in control of around two-thirds of the formerly rebel-held territory.
Fierce fighting between the two sides, resulting in a Russian nurse being killed in a mortar strike by rebels, the country said, while rebels claimed to have retaken other areas.
As the fighting continues the conditions for trapped residents continues to worsen.
One man described the situation in the besieged neighbourhood of Saif Al Dawla: "We don't have enough food, we just depend on stored food... we don't have enough medicine, we don't have hospitals, except just one in service, we don't have enough fuel, the people here are looking for broken furniture for burning."
Earlier on Monday Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, hinted at a deal to allow rebel fighters to leave the city and for a ceasefire to come into place.
However, later in the day a draft resolution in the UN Security Council for a seven-day humanitarian truce was vetoed by Russia and China.
The resolution had sought to allow for the removal from the city of the ill and injured and to provide humanitarian aid workers enough time to get food aid and medicine into the Syrian city.
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin complained that the vote violated the Security Council's working procedures because the draft had not been given the traditional 24 hours for it to be under review.
He also complained that it did not take into account an agreement between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state John Kerry to organise a group of experts on Aleppo.
US deputy ambassador Michele Sison said that Mr Churkin's contention that the US and Russia were on the cusp of reaching a deal was "a made up alibi".
"We will not let Russia string along the Security Council while waiting for a compromise that never seems to come," Ms Sison said.