Syria conflict: Air strikes leave Aleppo 'without water'

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Intensified attacks on the Syrian city of Aleppo have left nearly two million people without water, the UN says.

The UN children's agency says fierce strikes on Friday prevented repairs to a damaged pumping station supplying rebel-held districts of the city.In retaliation, Unicef says, a nearby station pumping water to the rest of Aleppo has been switched off.

Fresh strikes were reported in the city on Saturday, as the Syrian army presses on with its push to retake rebel areas.The latest offensive was launched after a ceasefire collapsed on Monday.

Unicef deputy director Justin Forsyth told the BBC: "Aleppo is slowly dying, and the world is watching, and the water is being cut off and bombed - it's just the latest act of inhumanity."

Medical sources say 91 people were killed in Friday's bombardment.

The Syrian army has said it is preparing for a ground offensive, and told civilians to stay away from rebel positions.On Saturday government troops were reported to have captured the rebel stronghold of Handarat to the north of Aleppo, further tightening their grip on the city.

Investigation call

A seven-day truce brokered by the US and Russia collapsed on Monday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday reiterated a call to revive the ceasefire "on a collective basis".

He told Russian TV that a fresh truce could not be based on "Russia's unilateral concessions".The pause in fighting, agreed by Russia and US earlier this month, was intended to improve aid deliveries and lead to joint operations against Islamic State and other militant groups.

Hopes that the truce would be extended collapsed as the US-led coalition apologised for killing more than 60 Syrian soldiers in one of its air strikes. And an aid convoy was attacked on Monday hours after the ceasefire ended, killing some 20 people.

Syrian and Russia deny claims that their forces were involved.In his TV interview, Mr Lavrov called for an investigation into the incident. He is New York, where he has been holding talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry.