SANTA AKBAR !

Merry Christmas in Aleppo (if you're on the winning side): Dozens of Assad loyalists dress up as Santa and 'celebrate' in shattered city square

• Aleppo has been divided into a rebel-held east and government-held west since 2012
  
• The east has been destroyed and thousands have been killed by nearly six years of civil war
  
• Opposition fighters agreed last week to withdraw from east Aleppo 
  
• It marks the biggest victory for President Assad's forces in almost six years
  
• At least 25,000 people have left rebel districts since last week
  
• But many more are still stuck - injured, starving, freezing and waiting for buses 
  
• Meanwhile, the first Christmas party since 2012 has been thrown in a square in west Aleppo
  

By Sarah Dean For Mailonline
Published: 16:17, 21 December 2016 | Updated: 17:22, 21 December 2016


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4055526/Merry-Christmas-Aleppo-winning-Dozens-locals-dress-Santa-celebrate-square-enjoy-taste-normality.html#ixzz4TUyAnI8H
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<img id="i-1b1975b74aecb503" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/12/21/15/3B8F7C6800000578-4055526-image-a-153_1482334586924.jpg" height="539" width="962" alt="Celebrations: In Azizieh square, in west Aleppo, which is under firm government control a festive party was held on Tuesday" class="blkBorder img-share"/>

Celebrations: In Azizieh square, in west Aleppo, which is under firm government control a festive party was held on Tuesday



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4055526/Merry-Christmas-Aleppo-winning-Dozens-locals-dress-Santa-celebrate-square-enjoy-taste-normality.html#ixzz4TUyXJ5Jm
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