Syria: Warring parties accept US-Russia truce plan

The Syrian government and the main opposition umbrella group say they accept the terms of a deal to cease hostilities from Saturday. The government said it would halt “combat operations” in line with the plan announced by the US and Russia. But the opposition said its acceptance depended on government forces ending sieges and air […]

The Syrian government and the main opposition umbrella group say they accept the terms of a deal to cease hostilities from Saturday.
The government said it would halt “combat operations” in line with the plan announced by the US and Russia. But the opposition said its acceptance depended on government forces ending sieges and air strikes of civilians.
The deal will not apply to the two main jihadist groups in Syria, Islamic State (IS) and the rival al-Nusra Front.
The High Negotiation Committee (HNC), which represents most of the main opposition and rebel factions, issued a statement after a meeting in Saudi Arabia saying it was “committed to the success of the international efforts dedicated to ending Syrian bloodshed”.
But it warned that “acceptance of the truce is conditional’’ on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2254, which calls on all parties to lift sieges, allow aid deliveries, halt aerial and artillery attacks on civilians, and release detainees.