Syrians leave a rebel-held area of Aleppo towards the government-held side on December 13, 2016
© Karam Al-Masri / AFPSyrians leave a rebel-held area of Aleppo towards the government-held side on December 13, 2016
The situation in eastern Aleppo may be resolved in two to three days, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. The Russian Reconciliation Center reported earlier that about 6,000 civilians have been evacuated from militant-controlled areas in the last 24 hours.

"I hope that the situation in Aleppo will be resolved in two to three days. [Russia] has created humanitarian corridors [in Aleppo] that have been and are being used by tens of thousands of civilians," Lavrov said, adding that guarantees of safety have been given to militants who voluntarily lay down their arms, and corridors have also been organized for them to safely leave the city.

At the same time, Lavrov stressed that the crisis can only be solved by political means.

"This concerns Syria, this concerns Libya, Yemen, Iraq," he said, adding "what is happening in these countries, especially in Iraq - the attempt to take the city of Mosul - is no less dramatic."

"[At least] 5,992 civilians, including 2,210 children, have been evacuated from areas of Aleppo under the control of militants with the assistance of the Russian Reconciliation Center," the Center's statement said earlier.

They have all been placed in humanitarian centers where they are receiving food and medical assistance, the Center added.

In addition, at least 366 fighters have surrendered and entered the western part of Aleppo, according to the statement.

"In accordance with the decision of the Syrian president, 329 fighters have received amnesty," the statement added.

Russian military from the Center have cleared at least 45 buildings of explosive devices and demined 16 hectares in eastern Aleppo in the last 24 hours, the statement added.

Russian demining specialists have also managed to clear at least 5.4 miles (8.7 kilometers) of roads.

Lavrov also noted that the rumors alleging that the Syrian army is committing atrocities in Aleppo, which are being circulated by some mainstream media outlets, have not been confirmed by independent humanitarian organizations.

"I receive information from independent humanitarian organizations firsthand.... No one has confirmed claims about atrocities or kidnappings," Lavrov said.

Aleppo militants violated agreements & attacked Syrian army on Wednesday - Reconciliation Center

Militants in eastern Aleppo attacked the Syrian army on Wednesday morning, violating agreements with the Syrian authorities, the Russian Reconciliation Center reported, adding that the Syrian army repelled the attack.

The Center was planning to evacuate militants from Aleppo at about 6am on Wednesday. Buses were scheduled to take them through the Salah ad-Din neighborhood in the direction of Idlib, but when they arrived, the militants opened fire on the Syrian army soldiers, the Center said.