BBC Online :
A new nationwide ceasefire between Syrian government forces and rebel groups appears to be largely holding.
However isolated clashes have been reported since the truce, brokered by Russia and Turkey, went into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The deal includes many rebel groups but not jihadists such as so-called Islamic State, or the Kurdish YPG. If it holds, despite some isolated clashes, peace talks are due to be held in Kazakhstan within a month.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, said most of the country was calm overnight. But it reported “fierce clashes” between rebels and government forces in the northern province of Hama.
SOHR director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency: “Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence.”
Residents in the area of Ghouta in eastern Damascus also said they heard gunfire less than two hours after the ceasefire took effect. Other isolated incidents were reported in Idlib, in north-western Syria.
At least 300,000 people are believed to have been killed in fighting that followed the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.
Four million have sought refuge in neighbouring states or Europe.
The diplomatic noises are encouraging, and even the rebel groups involved have suggested it could succeed.
However, previous ceasefire initiatives this year quickly collapsed.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said there was “a real chance to reach a political settlement to end the bloodshed and establish the future of the country”.
The fact that the rebels have been losing ground may help.
The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the umbrella group representing Syria’s political and armed opposition factions, admitted on Thursday that because of the rebels’ limited resources, it was “not possible to continue” the fight.
It is nominally nationwide, although that really only covers the areas where the sides who have signed up to the truce have a presence.
Looking at the map, there are large swathes under both jihadist and Kurdish control.
One area that is included is the rebel-held area of Ghouta in eastern Damascus, where government forces have been advancing in recent months.
Under the terms of the deal, the peace talks would begin within a month of the ceasefire taking effect – and holding – and would be held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
On 24 November 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on its border with Syria and a big diplomatic freeze ensued.
A new nationwide ceasefire between Syrian government forces and rebel groups appears to be largely holding.
However isolated clashes have been reported since the truce, brokered by Russia and Turkey, went into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The deal includes many rebel groups but not jihadists such as so-called Islamic State, or the Kurdish YPG. If it holds, despite some isolated clashes, peace talks are due to be held in Kazakhstan within a month.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, said most of the country was calm overnight. But it reported “fierce clashes” between rebels and government forces in the northern province of Hama.
SOHR director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency: “Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence.”
Residents in the area of Ghouta in eastern Damascus also said they heard gunfire less than two hours after the ceasefire took effect. Other isolated incidents were reported in Idlib, in north-western Syria.
At least 300,000 people are believed to have been killed in fighting that followed the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.
Four million have sought refuge in neighbouring states or Europe.
The diplomatic noises are encouraging, and even the rebel groups involved have suggested it could succeed.
However, previous ceasefire initiatives this year quickly collapsed.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said there was “a real chance to reach a political settlement to end the bloodshed and establish the future of the country”.
The fact that the rebels have been losing ground may help.
The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the umbrella group representing Syria’s political and armed opposition factions, admitted on Thursday that because of the rebels’ limited resources, it was “not possible to continue” the fight.
It is nominally nationwide, although that really only covers the areas where the sides who have signed up to the truce have a presence.
Looking at the map, there are large swathes under both jihadist and Kurdish control.
One area that is included is the rebel-held area of Ghouta in eastern Damascus, where government forces have been advancing in recent months.
Under the terms of the deal, the peace talks would begin within a month of the ceasefire taking effect – and holding – and would be held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
On 24 November 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on its border with Syria and a big diplomatic freeze ensued.
