Syria says dozens of families leave rebel Aleppo

Syria and its ally Russia said Saturday that dozens of civilians and rebels had left besieged eastern Aleppo through humanitarian corridors but residents there and rebels dismissed the claims as "lies".

The reported crossings came 48 hours after Russia announced safe passages to allow evacuations from the rebel-held eastern areas, where an estimated 250,000 people are under government siege and facing food shortages.

State television broadcast footage it said showed women and children crossing into the government-held part of Salaheddin neighbourhood, under the watch of soldiers.

"This morning dozens of families left via the corridors identified... to allow the exit of citizens besieged by terrorist groups in the eastern neighbourhoods," state news agency SANA reported.

"They were welcomed by members of the army and taken by bus to temporary shelters," it added.

"Armed men from eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo" turned themselves over to army soldiers in Salaheddin district, SANA said without giving further details.

State television broadcast footage of a few men entering government territory carrying their weapons aloft, some with scarves wrapped around their faces.

Russia's defence ministry said that 169 civilians had crossed into the government-held west of the city since Thursday.

It added that 69 rebels had laid down arms and said another four crossings would be opened to allow more evacuations.

But on the ground, residents and an AFP correspondent said there was no sign of movement, adding that makeshift berms were still in place across the road from rebel to regime territory in Salaheddin.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said around 20 people had crossed from the east into the west, but insisted none were rebels.

Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the war that began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

It has been roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012.

Eastern neighbourhoods have been under total siege since July 17, when government forces seized the opposition's only remaining supply route.

The siege has led to food shortages and spiralling prices, and aid agencies have warned that residents risk starvation.