Christian leaders urge 'safe zones' for Aleppo

The custodian of Catholic sites in the Holy Land and the head of the Franciscan Order called on Tuesday for a "safe zone" to be created in Syria's Aleppo as fighting there raged

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Francesco Patton, whose custody of Catholic sites in the Holy Land covers shrines in Syria, and Michael Perry, minister general of the Order of Friars Minor, made the appeal in a joint statement.

Their plea came as Syrian regime forces advanced against rebels in the northern city during intense street battles on Tuesday, after the United States abandoned talks with Russia aimed at securing a truce.