Syria conflict: Temporary truce comes into effect

The first major temporary truce in Syria’s five-year civil war has come into effect. The “cessation of hostilities” began with early reports saying front lines were silent. UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said fighting had “calmed down” but one breach was being investigated. In the run-up to the deadline, US President Barack […]

The first major temporary truce in Syria’s five-year civil war has come into effect. The “cessation of hostilities” began with early reports saying front lines were silent.
UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said fighting had “calmed down” but one breach was being investigated. In the run-up to the deadline, US President Barack Obama warned the Syrian government and its ally Russia “the world will be watching”.
The truce involves government and rebel forces, but not the so-called Islamic State group or the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria’s civil war and millions more have been forced from their homes. A few hours after the deadline passed, a car bomb killed two people outside the government-held town of Salamiyeh, near Hama, Syrian state media reported.
However, the temporary halt in fighting appeared to be holding on Saturday morning, said the BBC’s Mark Lowen, who is in the Turkish town of Gaziantep near the Syrian border.