This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-peace-truce-deal-assad-regime-rebels-russia-turkey-guarantee-president-putin-recep-tayip-a7500196.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Syrian regime signs truce deal with rebels guaranteed by Russia, says President Putin Syrian regime signs truce deal with rebels guaranteed by Russia, says President Putin
(35 minutes later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the signing of a truce deal between the Syrian regime and the opposition.Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the signing of a truce deal between the Syrian regime and the opposition.
The Kremlin leader said the ceasefire agreement, to begin from midnight and guaranteed by Russia and Turkey's governments, will be followed by peace talks between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the seven major armed opposition groups. The ceasefire agreement, to begin from midnight and guaranteed by Russia and Turkey's governments, will be followed by peace talks between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the seven major armed opposition groups.
The negotiations however exclude terrorist groups and Mr Putin said he will continue "fighting international terrorism in Syria" and supporting Mr Assad's military. The negotiations however exclude United Nations-recognised terrorist groups and Mr Putin said he will continue "fighting international terrorism in Syria" and supporting Mr Assad's military.
The Syrian state news agency SANA has also followed with confirmation, and a statement said the military command "declares a comprehensive nationwide cessation of hostilities as of midnight". “The agreements reached are, of course, fragile, and need a special attention and involvement," said Mr Putin.
It said the ceasefire comes after the "sucessess achieved by the armed forces" in a thinly veiled reference to the capture and evacuation of besieged Aleppo earlier this month. "But after all, this is a notable result of our joint work, efforts by the defence and foreign ministries and our partners in the regions
The Syrian state news agency SANA followed with confirmation, and an army statement said: "The gernal command of the armed forces announces a complete halt to all hostilities on Syrian territory from the zero hour of 30 December."
It said the ceasefire comes after the "successes achieved by the armed forces" in a thinly veiled reference to the capture and evacuation of besieged Aleppo earlier this month.
An opposition spokesman also said: "The National Coalition expresses support for the agreement and urges all parties to abide by it."An opposition spokesman also said: "The National Coalition expresses support for the agreement and urges all parties to abide by it."
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says the truce will include 62,000 rebel fighters across the country. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says the truce will include 62,000 rebel fighters across the country.
The Russian military has reportedly set up a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance. The Russian military has reportedly set up a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance.
Mr Putin's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that President-elect Donald Trump's administration will be invited to the Syrian peace process once he takes office. Mr Putin's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that President-elect Donald Trump's administration as well as the governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan will be invited to the Syrian peace process 
Formal talks will take place in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana in what are a "complementary step" to the United Nations-backed negotiations in Geneva.Formal talks will take place in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana in what are a "complementary step" to the United Nations-backed negotiations in Geneva.
If the truce deal is respected, it could end a six-year civil war that has killed potentially more than 430,000 and forced around 11 million from their homes. If the truce deal is respected, it could end a six-year civil war that has killed potentially more than 430,000 and forced around 11 million from their homes.
More follows Mr Putin, who has proved to be a powerful and faithful ally of Mr al-Assad's, also said Russian military will maintain a presence at an air base in Syria's Latakia province and in the port of Tartus.
The announcement comes on the same day as early-morning air strikes near Damascus, reported by the London-based monitoring group The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, that killed at least 15 civilians.
A ceasefire in September lasted just one week, after the Syrian regime resumed airstrikes, but this is the first deal brokered with involvement from rebel-supporting Turkey.