Hundreds of people have demonstrated outside the Iranian embassy in Istanbul protesting about the seeming lack of urgency on the part of Tehran to speed the evacuation of civilians from Aleppo, and in some cases to seemingly prevent it altogether.

There were also anti-American protests calling for a resumption of evacuations after Shia militias allied to Iran and Hezbollah, Iran’s ally, reportedly blocked refugee convoys, detaining many, and carrying out some summary executions.

“The operation to liberate Aleppo from terrorists has finished. Government forces are liquidating single groups of radicals who refused to leave the city,” said the Russian General Staff’s Main Operations head Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi.

The Russians continue to provide military support to the Syrians in their offensive, while trying to escort civilians out of the city where they are being allowed to by the militias, but are refusing to enter into conflict with them.