DHAKA: France and Turkey have said that air strikes on hospitals in northern Syria constitute war crimes.

Up to 50 people have been killed in missile attacks on schools and hospitals in the region, the UN said.

Turkey’s foreign ministry blamed Russia for the attacks, reports the BBC. However, Moscow is yet to respond to the allegations.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has cast doubt over plans to implement a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria.

Last week world powers agreed to work towards a selective truce in Syria, to begin later this week.

But in his first comments on the announcement, President Assad said such a ceasefire did not mean all the parties would put down their weapons.

“So far they say they want a ceasefire within a week,” he said in televised comments.

“Who is capable of gathering all these conditions and requirements within a week?” he added.

BDST: 1006 HRS, FEB 16, 2016
SR