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Syria conflict: UN to vote on Syria ceasefire deal Syria conflict: UN to vote on Syria ceasefire deal
(about 2 hours later)
The UN Security Council is to vote on a Russian resolution endorsing the ceasefire agreement in Syria.The UN Security Council is to vote on a Russian resolution endorsing the ceasefire agreement in Syria.
The draft text calls for rapid access for the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Syria. The draft text calls for rapid access for the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the stricken country.
It also expresses support for a political process to end the conflict, with talks between the government and opposition, brokered by Russia and Turkey, due in Kazakhstan next month. It also endorses a political process, with talks between the government and opposition, brokered by Russia and Turkey, due in Kazakhstan next month.
The ceasefire, which began just over a day ago, has held in most places. Meanwhile, Syria's main rebel alliance has said it did not sign up to the same terms agreed by the government.
However, some clashes and air strikes were reported. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) said that, following statements from Russian officials, it was "surprised" to find that its version of the agreement differed from that of the government.
The ceasefire deal applies across Syria but does not cover certain rebel groups including the jihadists of so-called Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), and the Kurdish YPG militia. It condemned what it called continuing breaches of the truce by the government in the rebel-held Wadi Barada area near Damascus.
The ceasefire, which began just over a day ago, has held in most places although fighting and air strikes were reported in Wadi Barada again on Saturday.
The truce applies across Syria but does not cover certain rebel groups including the jihadists of so-called Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), and the Kurdish YPG militia.
The Russian UN resolution comes against a backdrop of deadlock among the veto-wielding members of the Security Council, with Russia supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the US, UK and France insisting he must step down as part of any deal to end the war.The Russian UN resolution comes against a backdrop of deadlock among the veto-wielding members of the Security Council, with Russia supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the US, UK and France insisting he must step down as part of any deal to end the war.
Russia and Turkey also back opposite sides in the conflict, with Turkey supporting the rebellion against Mr Assad.Russia and Turkey also back opposite sides in the conflict, with Turkey supporting the rebellion against Mr Assad.
The new kingmakers - Lyse Doucet, BBC chief international correspondent Why is Wadi Barada so important?
This deal was declared before it was done and dusted. Seven groups said to have signed up include Ahrar al-Sham, which Moscow and Damascus have always described as terrorists. Ahrar al-Sham says it has "reservations". Do they have anything to do with backers like Saudi Arabia and Qatar? On Thursday, the UN expressed concern about the fighting in the town, saying fighters were deliberately targeting and damaging springs used to supply some four million people in the Damascus area with drinking water.
But a new top table has been forged before a new US president enters the scene. Russia is confirmed as the foreign force which matters. Turkey displaced the US as kingmaker on the other side. It has bargaining chips and, most of all, wants to stop the sway of Syrian Kurdish forces, who are US allies. Wadi Barada is held by opposition forces, including JFS, which was known as al-Nusra Front until it formally broke ties with al-Qaeda in July.
Many opposition fighters will welcome a pause after their stinging defeat in Aleppo. But they and Turkey still want President Assad to step down. That conflicts with Iran, the other key player, as well as Mr Assad's own circles. But that's for the next round in this new great game which could be talks in Astana, in Russia's orbit. On Saturday, the FSA accused the government and Iranian militias of "brazen violations" in the town, accusing them of planning a "massacre" which would "lead to an immediate end" of the truce.
On Friday, fighting between government and rebel forces was reported in several areas, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, saying there had been clashes and air strikes in northern Hama province. "We call on Russia which signed the agreement as a guarantor for the regime and its allies to bear its responsibility," the rebels said.
Positions in Wadi Barada near Damascus - held by opposition forces, including JFS, which was known as al-Nusra Front until it formally broke ties with al-Qaeda in July - were also bombarded, it said. The FSA added that it was "fully committed to the ceasefire in accordance with a comprehensive truce which does not exclude any area or faction present in opposition areas".
But the military denied the report and accused the opposition of aiming to show it was not abiding by the truce. Who is included in the truce agreement?
The UN expressed concern about the fighting in Wadi Barada on Thursday, saying fighters were deliberately targeting and damaging springs used to supply some four million people in the Damascus area with drinking water.
Who is included by the truce agreement?
On the one side, Syrian government forces, allied militias and the Russian military.On the one side, Syrian government forces, allied militias and the Russian military.
On the other, a loose alliance of moderate rebel factions that operate under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), plus several other groups. On the other, the FSA plus several other groups.
The Russian defence ministry named seven "moderate opposition formations" included in the truce as Faylaq al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam, Thuwwar Ahl al-Sham, Jaysh al-Mujahidin, Jaysh Idlib and Jabhah al-Shamiya.The Russian defence ministry named seven "moderate opposition formations" included in the truce as Faylaq al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam, Thuwwar Ahl al-Sham, Jaysh al-Mujahidin, Jaysh Idlib and Jabhah al-Shamiya.
Ahrar al-Sham, which said it had "reservations" about the deal, and Jaysh al-Islam are Islamist groups that Russia has previously described as terrorist organisations.Ahrar al-Sham, which said it had "reservations" about the deal, and Jaysh al-Islam are Islamist groups that Russia has previously described as terrorist organisations.
Who is not included?Who is not included?
IS and JFS and the groups affiliated to them", are not part of the agreement, according to the Syrian army.IS and JFS and the groups affiliated to them", are not part of the agreement, according to the Syrian army.
JFS said on Friday it would continue to fight President Assad, with a spokesman saying the political solution under the truce would "reproduce the criminal regime".JFS said on Friday it would continue to fight President Assad, with a spokesman saying the political solution under the truce would "reproduce the criminal regime".
Members of the group are currently operating as part of a rebel alliance that controls Idlib province.Members of the group are currently operating as part of a rebel alliance that controls Idlib province.
The FSA also said the deal did not include the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG).The FSA also said the deal did not include the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG).
The militia, which has captured large swathes of north-eastern Syria from IS with US support, is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey.The militia, which has captured large swathes of north-eastern Syria from IS with US support, is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
Where does the truce apply and on what terms? The truce is nominally nationwide, although that really only covers the areas where the sides who have signed up have a presence - western Syria.
It is nominally nationwide, although that really only covers the areas where the sides who have signed up have a presence - western Syria.
Swathes of central and eastern Syria are under IS or Kurdish control.
Under the terms of the deal, talks on a political solution to end the civil war should begin within a month of the start of the truce and would be held in Kazakhstan.