Syria agrees on sending UN mission to Aleppo for ground check

DAMASCUS (Xinhua) - Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Saturday agreed with the visiting UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura on sending a UN mission to the country's northern city of Aleppo, state news agency SANA reported.

Al-Moallem and de Mistrua met in the capital Damascus late on Saturday, during which both sides agreed on sending a mission from de Mistura's office in Damascus to Aleppo to "inspect the situation there."

On Feb. 20, Syrian rebels captured 32 soldiers and pro-government gunmen near Aleppo, where fighting is raging as the two sides try to grab new territory.

Al-Moallem and de Mistruas also discussed the latter's plan on "freezing" battles in Aleppo, said SANA.

In October 2014, de Mistura put forward an action plan for Syria which proposed to "freeze" fighting in local areas to facilitate aid entrance and to pave the way for peace talks.

Earlier this month, de Mistura said there is "no illusion," but still "some hope" for a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Analysts say sending a mission from de Mistura's office to Aleppo aims apparently to check the situation on ground ahead of possible implementation of the "freeze battle plan."