US halts Russia talks over Syria crisis

The US has said it is suspending talks with Russia over Syria, accusing Moscow of having "failed to live up" to its commitments under a ceasefire deal.

Washington blamed Russia and the Syrian government for intensifying their attacks against civilians, BBC reports.

Last week, the US warned it would halt the talks unless Moscow stops bombing the city of Aleppo.

Russia said it regretted the US move, accusing it of shifting the blame for the collapse of last month's truce.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city in the north, has come under heavy aerial bombardment since the end of the ceasefire two weeks ago.

The main trauma hospital in the rebel-held eastern part of the city was hit in an air strike for the third time in a week, activists said on Monday.

Hundreds of people, including children, have died since government forces launched an offensive to take full control of Aleppo after the week-long truce lapsed.

Some 250,000 people are trapped in eastern Aleppo.