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Aleppo evacuation operation 'in last stages'

The evacuation of civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo is in its "last stages," the International Committee of the Red Cross has said.

Around 34,000 people have been evacuated in the week-long rescue operation.

Over 4,000 rebel fighters left between Wednesday and Thursday to rebel-held western rural Aleppo, as per an agreement reached with the government.

Thousands are expected to be evacuated as the rescue operation continues throughout Friday, a Red Cross spokeswoman said.

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Streets cleaned and Syria flags raised in eastern Aleppo

This street was previously known as a 'sniper ally'. Credit: ITV News

ITV News has witnessed streets being cleaned and flags of Syria and its president Bashar al Assad raised in a former rebel-held district of eastern Aleppo.

The residents are believed to have evacuated to opposition-held rural parts of western Aleppo, Idlib and Turkey during a ceasefire on Thursday, and replaced with Syria government soldiers.

However the fragile ceasefire has since broken down with aid agencies and vehicles told to leave the area without explanation.

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