The British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has told his Russian counterpart he is deeply concerned about the situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

It comes as Russia agrees to sit down with the United Nations to try to agree a "workable humanitarian pause" in fighting in the besieged city.

Mr Johnson told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone that there was an "urgent humanitarian need for all parties to put an end to violations of the Cessation of Hostilities."

Image: One of the victims of the suspected gas attack. Pic: @MahmoudRashwani

Russia and the UK have agreed to take talks forward in person at the UN General Assembly in September.

A Foreign office statement said: "The Foreign Secretary made clear that while we have some significant differences with Russia, we need to continue to build a constructive dialogue on issues of mutual concern as well as on points of disagreement."


The announcement of talks between the UN and Russia came hours after a three-hour daily ceasefire reportedly failed to take effect.

Image: Many suffered breathing difficulties. Pic: @MahmoudRashwani

It was announced by Russia to allow humanitarian and aid deliveries in the city,

Violations of the Russian proposal, which had been due to come into force on Thursday morning, were reported on both sides.

Moscow's call for the daily three-hour halt in fighting was greeted with scepticism by rebel forces, while the United Nations warned that the pause was not long enough to ease the humanitarian crisis faced by hundreds of thousands of civilians in the city.

UN humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said that a 48-hour pause each week was required to ensure the safe delivery of aid, adding that he was "hopeful" Russia would consider this proposal.

Image: More than 50 others were reportedly injured in the attack. Pic: @MahmoudRashwani

"What is the new and positive thing today is that the Russian Federation said they would like to sit down with us and the other co-chair (the United States) to discuss how the UN proposal could be implemented," he said.

"We are hopeful that will lead to something."

Aleppo, Syria's most populous city before the war, is the subject of a bitter fight between various rebel forces and Russian-backed government forces.

Last week, rebels broke a month-long government siege in the city's east, where an estimated 250,000 people are believed to be trapped.

Fierce fighting continues, however, meaning a safe corridor for civilians and aid has not yet been established.

On Thursday, reports claimed at least four people have been killed in a suspected chlorine gas attack in the east of the city.

Aleppo: The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

The gas is believed to have been dropped alongside barrel bombs on the Zubdiya neighbourhood, which is in the rebel-held part of Aleppo.

UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has said there is a "lot of evidence" a gas attack occurred, adding that if it is confirmed it would constitute a war crime.

Hamza Khatib, manager of Al Quds hospital, told Reuters that he had recorded four deaths and 55 injuries.