Politics
13:59, 18-Jun-2017
Syrian army announces 48-hour ceasefire in southern city of Deraa
[]
Share
Copied
The Syrian army said it would suspend combat operations in the southern city of Deraa for 48 hours from Saturday noon.
The army and Iran-backed militia forces have stepped up attacks against a rebel-held part of Deraa, but the Syrian army general command said a ceasefire will be implemented to support reconciliation efforts.
The United Nations said it wanted to start a new round of peace talks between Syrian factions on July 10 in Geneva, and Moscow said it hopes to hold talks in the Kazakh capital Astana from July 4 to 5.
Multiple rounds of talks have been brokered since 2016. More than 300,000 people have been killed in the conflicts over the past six years, the UN estimates.