UN Security Council to meet over Aleppo

The UN Security Council will meet to urgently address the crisis over fighting in Aleppo, after a request from US, Britain and France, diplomats say.

The crisis meeting is scheduled for 1500 GMT on Sunday (0100 on Monday).

Syrian government forces have seized ground from rebels north of Aleppo, tightening their siege on the city's opposition-held east as it came under fierce air strikes in a major offensive by the Russian-backed army.

Dozens of people have been reported killed in eastern Aleppo since the army announced the new offensive late on Thursday, burying any remaining hope for reviving a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia.

Residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo say it is being subjected to the most ferocious bombardment of the war.

Rebel officials said heavy air strikes on Saturday hit at least four areas of the opposition-held east, home to more than 250,000 people. Rebels say the strikes are mostly being carried out by Russian warplanes.