The Syrian representative at the United Nations denied reports that the Syrian army has committed atrocities in the northern city of Aleppo.

Bashar Jafaari made the comments during an emergency UN Security Council session on Syria on Tuesday.

He said that every time the Syrian army makes a progress, the rebels and their Western backers falsely accuse the Syrian army of crimes against civilians.

The denial comes against the backdrop of Western accusations that the Syrian army has killed civilians during its recent battles to drive out the rebels from the few pockets they are still holding in the eastern part of Aleppo city.

Meanwhile, negotiations were still ongoing on Tuesday for the evacuation of rebels and their families from eastern Aleppo.

Russia declared the evacuation deal, but the Syrian army has yet to confirm, amid talks that the general-command of the Syrian army will make a statement later on Tuesday to declare the government stance on the deal.

The rebels in eastern Aleppo have become cornered in a very small area, and if confirmed, they could leave the city as early as at dawn Wednesday.

source: Xinhua