To meet Donald Trump team

The UN's peace envoy for Syria on Thursday said he is planning to hold meetings with US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team.

Staffan de Mistura, who has been leading diplomatic efforts to end the five-year war in Syria, told reporters that talks would be held in New York and in Washington next week. 

"The plan is to meet some people around the team of president Trump," De Mistura said as the Security Council met behind closed doors to discuss the crisis in Syria.

Declining to give details on the issues he plans to raise, he said he has "some ideas" about how the new US administration "would be able to help fight terrorism in a very effective way."

Although it was not immediately known with whom he would be meeting, he said the talks would take place on Monday and Tuesday.

Backed by Russian air power, Syrian forces have captured about 85 percent of eastern Aleppo after three weeks of heavy fighting to seize one of the last opposition strongholds.

The United States and Russia are holding talks on a ceasefire deal that could allow rebel fighters and civilians to leave the city.

The United Nations has stepped up calls for a pause in fighting to allow hundreds of sick and injured children to be evacuated.

Source: AFP