article_snippet: De Mistura has made the plan for a temporary ceasefire in Aleppo the centrepiece of De Mistura efforts to bring any kind of halt to the conflict in Syria, where more than 220,000 people have been killed since it erupted in March 2011.
article_snippet: De Mistura in October unveiled the proposal to suspend fighting in Aleppo to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and make a first step towards a broader political deal.
article_snippet: De Mistura held talks in Damascus on Saturday to try to finalise a deal, with a delegation member saying De Mistura hoped to set in motion as soon as possible a plan to halt fighting in Aleppo for six weeks.
article_snippet: But rebel representatives refused to consider the proposal to suspend fighting in Aleppo to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and make a first step towards a broader political deal unless the proposal to suspend fighting in Aleppo to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and make a first step towards a broader political deal forms the basis for a 'comprehensive solution' to the conflict through the departure of Assad.
article_snippet: De Mistura has angered the opposition by describing Assad as 'part of the solution' to the conflict.
article_snippet: Some Western powers have also cast doubt on a plan to halt fighting in Aleppo for six weeks, with the French ambassador to the United Nations, Francois Delattre, saying Tuesday that 'France remains sceptical about the regime's willingness' to follow through on it.
article_snippet: Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Moqdad (left) meets with United Nations special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (right) in Damascus last month to discuss the ongoing civil war in United .