INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
United Nations has warned of a major humanitarian catastrophe if the offensive takes place in the enclaveUnited Nations, United
on the fate of Syria's Idlib province, diplomats said.The council will meet at Russia's request at 1500 GMT to hear the briefing as Syrian
forces, backed by Russia and Iran, are preparing for an all-out military assault on the rebel-held province.The United Nations has warned of
a major humanitarian catastrophe if the offensive takes place in the enclave where some three million people live -- about half of whom have
already been displaced in the seven-year war.On Friday, the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey failed to agree during the Tehran summit
on how to stave off military action on the northwestern province.At a council meeting also on Friday, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia
defended the military plans for Idlib, saying armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda were "a legitimate target for liquidation."Britain, France and
the United States fear mass casualties among civilians during the assault on Syria's last major rebel bastion.The Russian mission to the
United Nations said in an email seen by AFP that the public meeting would serve to "brief council members on the results" of the Tehran
summit of the so-called Astana guarantors.The three countries last year set up the Astana process, a negotiating track to end Syria's war
that has largely eclipsed the UN-led peace process.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff
and is published from a syndicated feed.)
