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Syria conflict: Ceasefire agreed, backed by Russia and Turkey Syria conflict: Ceasefire agreed, backed by Russia and Turkey
(about 1 hour later)
The Syrian government and rebel groups have agreed a nationwide ceasefire from midnight local time (22:00 GMT) on Thursday, followed by peace talks. The Syrian government and rebel groups have agreed a nationwide ceasefire from midnight (22:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The deal was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Turkish foreign ministry. The deal was announced by Russia's President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by Turkey. The two nations, which back opposing sides, will act as guarantors.
Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides, will act as guarantors. The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), regarded by the UN as Syria's main opposition body, confirmed the deal, which excludes jihadist groups.
The rebel High Negotiations Committee (HNC), seen by the UN as the main opposition group, confirmed the deal, which excludes jihadist groups. If the truce holds, peace talks will be held in Kazakhstan within a month.
The Syrian army said in a statement that so-called Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly the Nusra Front) "and the groups affiliated to them" were not part of the agreement. 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.
Latest updates on Syria ceasefire A further four million have fled the country to seek refuge in neighbouring states or Europe.
Osama Abu Zaid, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose alliance of several moderate rebel factions under the HNC, said the deal also did not include the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG).
The YPG, along with other Kurdish militias, controls a large area of northern Syria up the Turkish border. It is regarded by Turkey as a terrorist organisation and an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
However, the ceasefire will take in the rebel-held eastern Ghouta area near Damascus, which had been a sticking-point in negotiations.
The HNC, the umbrella group representing Syria's political and armed opposition factions, said that, because of the rebels' limited resources against government forces and their allies, it was "not possible to continue" the fight.
Earlier this month, Moscow and Ankara negotiated a ceasefire in Syria's second city, Aleppo, that led to tens of thousands of rebel fighters and civilians being evacuated from an enclave besieged by government forces.
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UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, welcomed the new deal, saying he hoped it would save lives, improve aid delivery and pave the way for productive peace talks. Who is included in the deal?
Previous ceasefire initiatives this year brokered by the UN, or the US acting with Russia, quickly collapsed. On the one side, Syrian government forces, their factional allies and the Russian military.
Astana to host talks On the other, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose alliance of several moderate rebel factions, plus other groups under the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the umbrella group representing Syria's political and armed opposition factions.
Mr Putin announced in Moscow that three documents had been signed: FSA spokesman Osama Abu Zaid said there were 13 armed opposition factions in all who had signed up.
He described the deal as "fragile" but he praised the agreements as the result of the work of Russia's defence and foreign ministries with Moscow's partners in the region. The Russian defence ministry listed seven of the main rebel groups included in the truce as Faylaq al-Sham; Ahrar al-Sham; Jaysh al-Islam; Thuwwar Ahl al-Sham; Jaysh al-Mujahidin; Jaysh Idlib and al-Jabhah al-Shamiyah.
He added that he agreed with a proposal by the defence ministry to reduce Russia's military presence in Syria but made it clear Moscow would "continue fighting international terrorism and supporting the Syrian government". Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) are the key names, neither of them part of the FSA.
Peace talks, to begin within a month of the ceasefire, would be held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. Who is not included?
Jihadists. So-called Islamic State (IS) "and the groups affiliated to them" are not part of the agreement, Syria's army confirmed.
It also said Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly the Nusra Front) was excluded. However, some rebel officials told Reuters it was part of the deal, giving a hint of the complications that lie ahead.
This is because JFS is intrinsically linked in Idlib province to groups that have signed up to the truce.
The FSA also said that the deal did not include the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG).
The YPG, along with other Kurdish militias, controls a large area of northern Syria up the Turkish border. It is regarded by Turkey as a terrorist organisation and an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
What are the terms and where does it cover?
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.
Announcing the deal in Moscow, Mr Putin said there were three key points:
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.
The Kurdish YPG would not take part in the peace talks, the FSA said.The Kurdish YPG would not take part in the peace talks, the FSA said.
Complications ahead - BBC's Selin Girit in Istanbul How did the ceasefire come about and can it hold?
A year ago, no-one would have expected Turkey-Russian relations to get to this level. Previous ceasefire initiatives this year brokered by the UN, or the US acting with Russia, quickly collapsed.
Ankara's moving closer to Moscow was bound to affect its policy on Syria. Now they have managed to broker a ceasefire. But earlier this month, Russia and Turkey negotiated a ceasefire in Syria's second city, Aleppo, that led to tens of thousands of rebel fighters and civilians being evacuated from an enclave besieged by government forces.
However, there seems to be disagreement on which groups are left out. The fact that the rebels have been losing ground may help this truce.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu mentioned that foreign fighter groups, including Hezbollah, needed to leave Syria as well - which will not sit well with Iran, a major backer of the Bashar al-Assad regime. The HNC admitted on Thursday that, because of the rebels' limited resources against government forces and their allies, it was "not possible to continue" the fight.
Whether Ankara is prepared to give up on its long-term goal of ousting Mr Assad could complicate negotiations with Russia. What has the reaction to the deal been?
Turkey's foreign ministry also emphasised it was crucial for all states with influence over the groups in Syria to comply with and support the ceasefire - an obvious call to Washington, among others. Mr Putin himself described the deal as "fragile".
Key rebel groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham and Army of Islam factions, have signed the ceasefire deal. He said Russia would cut its military presence in Syria but made it clear Moscow would "continue fighting international terrorism and supporting the Syrian government".
A spokesman for the FSA said it would abide by the truce but would retaliate against violations by government forces and their allies. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a "window of opportunity" had been created that "should not be wasted". He vowed to continue fighting IS and "terrorist groups".
The FSA's Osama Abu Zaid said it had had no direct talks with the Syrian government ahead of the ceasefire deal and still insisted that President Bashar al-Assad would have no place in the future of Syria. Difficulties lie ahead in peace talks. Turkey has already called for the Lebanese Hezbollah movement - linked to Syria's ally Iran - to leave Syrian soil, which is sure to cause problems.
At least 300,000 people are believed to have been killed in fighting that followed the uprising against President Assad in March 2011. UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, welcomed the new deal, saying he hoped it would save lives and improve aid delivery.
A further four million have fled the country to seek refuge in neighbouring states or Europe. "These developments should contribute to inclusive and productive intra-Syrian negotiations to be convened under UN auspices on 8 February," he said.
The US state department said the deal was a "positive development" which it hoped would be "implemented and fully respected by all parties".
One rebel commander told Reuters: "This time I have confidence in its seriousness. There is new international input."
The FSA said it would abide by the truce but would retaliate against violations by government forces and their allies.
The FSA's Osama Abu Zaid said it had so far had no direct talks with the Syrian government and still insisted that President Assad would have no place in the future of Syria.