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At least 26 killed in Aleppo as UN meets over Syria

In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of Civil Defense removing a dead body from under the rubble after airstrikes hit in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city as an ongoing wave of airstrikes destroyed more buildings. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)
In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of Civil Defense removing a dead body from under the rubble after airstrikes hit in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city as an ongoing wave of airstrikes destroyed more buildings. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of Civil Defense removing a dead body from under the rubble after airstrikes hit in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city as an ongoing wave of airstrikes destroyed more buildings. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

By Associated Press 6 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – At least 26 civilians were killed in fresh government airstrikes on the contested city of Aleppo, Syrian activists said Sunday, as the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the spiraling violence in Syria but failed to take any action because of deep divisions between Russia and the Western powers.

The United States, Britain and France, who called the emergency meeting, heaped blame on Moscow for supporting the Syrian offensive which U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura called one of the worst of the 5 1/2-year war.

When Syria’s U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari was called to speak in the council, the ambassadors of the three Western powers walked out in protest.

They had demanded a halt to the Aleppo offensive and immediate council action, and their walkout demonstrated anger and frustration not only at Damascus but at Russia for backing close ally Bashar Assad’s military campaign while talking about reviving a cessation of hostilities.

“What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism, it’s barbarism,” said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power. “It’s apocalyptic what is being done in eastern Aleppo.”