The Syrian government has denied using chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta and is upholding the Russian order for a "humanitarian pause". Our correspondent Alaa Ebrahim is in Damascus with more on the government's position.

ALAA EBRAHIM DAMASCUS "A spokesperson for the Syrian army confirmed on Monday that the military is working with the Russian Ministry of Defense to uphold a daily five-hour pause in the fighting in eastern Ghouta. The same source said the government will establish more humanitarian corridors in addition to the one that the Syrian army set up last Thursday. As proposed, civilians wishing to leave can use any of these corridors.

But rebels have refused the new move. A leader in Jaish Al-Islam - one of three main factions controlling Ghouta - tells CGTN that evacuating civilians will create more displaced people, or refugees, and that people should be able to stay in their homes without the fear of being bombed. The rebel faction adds that the UNSC resolution for a ceasefire didn't mention anything about forcing civilians to leave their homes and only mentioned evacuating the sick and wounded.

Meanwhile, fighting raged in eastern Ghouta. Units of the Syrian army attacked from two different directions, but didn't report any progress, while rebels posted video showing deceased soldiers. The rebel fighter filming the video said the soldiers were killed while advancing on Nashabia town east of Ghouta. The same video showed a tank that is said to be a Syrian army tank that the rebels captured.

The Syrian army press office refused to comment on the video, but told reporters in a briefing that the rebels are spreading false allegations that the army has used chlorine gas. The military spokesman said the army would not use any toxic agents as a weapon. Alaa Ebrahim, CGTN, Damascus.