Putin orders daily 'humanitarian pause' in Eastern Ghouta, Syria

Syrian rescuers and civilians running from the site of a Syrian government bombardment in Hamouria last week, in the Eastern Ghouta region just outside Damascus [Abdulmonam Eassa, AFP]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily "humanitarian pause" to air strikes on the rebel-held Syrian enclave of Eastern Ghouta from Tuesday, Moscow's defence minister said Monday.

"On the instructions of the Russian president, with the goal of avoiding civilian casualties in Eastern Ghouta, from February 27 -- tomorrow -- from 9.00 to 14.00 there will be a humanitarian pause," minister Sergei Shoigu said at a ministry meeting, according to a statement sent to AFP.