Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Syria's army has suspended combat operations in eastern Aleppo. The move is to allow for the evacuation of civilians trapped in the battle zone. <br/><br/>Mr Lavrov said some 8,000 people would be taken out. Government forces have retaken 75 per cent of east Aleppo in recent weeks, areas rebels had controlled for four years. <br/><br/>The US welcomed the indication that something positive could happen. Mr Lavrov said on the sidelines of a European Foreign Ministers meeting in German that Russian and US military experts would meet in Geneva tomorrow to discuss ways of bringing an end to the violence in Aleppo.<br/><br/>A US state department spokeswoman confirmed Mr Lavrov had spoken to John Kerry and both had agreed to discuss a ceasefire that allows for the delivery of aid and the departure of civilians, but the specific nature of tomorrow's technical talks are still to be worked out.