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United States and Russia agree to partial cease-fire in Syria United States and Russia agree to partial cease-fire in Syria
(35 minutes later)
The United States and Russia have agreed to terms of a partial cease-fire in Syria, to go into effect at midnight Friday, according to Obama administration officials.The United States and Russia have agreed to terms of a partial cease-fire in Syria, to go into effect at midnight Friday, according to Obama administration officials.
The terms, still to be announced in detail, are being briefed to a negotiating team representing the Syrian opposition, which has until noon Friday to approve them. It is unclear whether Russia is speaking for the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad in making the agreement.The terms, still to be announced in detail, are being briefed to a negotiating team representing the Syrian opposition, which has until noon Friday to approve them. It is unclear whether Russia is speaking for the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad in making the agreement.
President Obama was due to speak by telephone to Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on Monday, officials said.President Obama was due to speak by telephone to Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on Monday, officials said.
Initially agreed to more than two weeks ago by Secretary of State John F. Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, at a meeting with 15 other international stakeholders in the Syrian conflict, the cease-fire was supposed to go into effect last Friday. Since then, Kerry and Lavrov have held near-daily telephone calls to work out problems in the arrangement. Initially agreed to Feb. 12 by Secretary of State John F. Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, at a meeting with 15 other international stakeholders in the Syrian conflict, the cease-fire was supposed to go into effect last Friday. Since then, Kerry and Lavrov have held near-daily telephone calls to work out problems in the arrangement.
The agreement will allow ongoing airstrikes against the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria.The agreement will allow ongoing airstrikes against the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria.
Meanwhile at the United Nations, a panel studying the Syrian crisis said “war crimes are rampant,” and accused both Syrian government forces and the Islamic State of ongoing crimes against humanity. Such findings could give further foundations for possible international prosecutions in the future.Meanwhile at the United Nations, a panel studying the Syrian crisis said “war crimes are rampant,” and accused both Syrian government forces and the Islamic State of ongoing crimes against humanity. Such findings could give further foundations for possible international prosecutions in the future.
The report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria also issued a blanket denunciation of nations feeding what is called Syria’s “multi-sided proxy war.”The report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria also issued a blanket denunciation of nations feeding what is called Syria’s “multi-sided proxy war.”
It did not specifically cite the countries on opposing sides in the conflict: Russia and Iran backing Assad’s government, while various opposition factions are supported by the United States and powerful regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. But the U.N. panel said international powers and others “continue to feed the military escalation” even amid efforts at peace talks.It did not specifically cite the countries on opposing sides in the conflict: Russia and Iran backing Assad’s government, while various opposition factions are supported by the United States and powerful regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. But the U.N. panel said international powers and others “continue to feed the military escalation” even amid efforts at peace talks.
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.