Syrian rebel says Aleppo evacuation obstructed by pro-Assad militia

A Syrian rebel official said pro-Damascus Shi’ite militias were obstructing the departure of people from opposition-held districts of eastern Aleppo on Wednesday under a deal that will hand control of the area to the government.Officials in the military alliance fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad could not immediately be reached for comment. Assad has been backed by an array of Shi’ite militias from across the region in his campaign for Aleppo.READ MORE: ‘The situation with Aleppo is now terrible’: Leader of Syrian rescue group urges action Sources had on Tuesday given different expected start times for the evacuation. Opposition officials said they had expected a first group of wounded people to leave on Tuesday evening.WATCH: Aleppo residents share horrifying messages as reports of executions emerge A military official in the pro-Assad alliance had said the evacuation was due to start at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT).“Iranian militias are turning people back,” said Zakaria Malahifji, a Turkey-based official with an Aleppo rebel group.READ MORE: Syrian rebels say Aleppo ceasefire deal reached to allow evacuation of civilians, fighters The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said no fighter or civilian had left eastern Aleppo as of 5 a.m. (0300 GMT).A Reuters witness said 20 buses were parked with their engines running on a main road out of the city, awaiting the evacuees. Another dozen were counted nearby.