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Syrian government 'agrees to Eid al-Adha ceasefire' Syria government 'agrees to Eid al-Adha ceasefire'
(35 minutes later)
The UN's envoy to Syria says President Bashar al-Assad's government has agreed to abide by a ceasefire during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. Syria's government and most opposition groups have agreed to a ceasefire during this weekend's Eid al-Adha holiday, the UN's peace envoy has said.
Lakhdar Brahimi told reporters in Cairo that most opposition factions had also said they would observe any ceasefire. Lakhdar Brahimi said he hoped to use the lull in fighting to "discuss a longer and more effective ceasefire".
The government said it would make its final decision on Thursday. However, Syria's foreign ministry said the truce had not been agreed, and it would announce a decision on Thursday.
Mr Brahimi said he hoped to use the lull in fighting over Eid al-Adha, which starts on Friday, to "discuss a longer and more effective ceasefire". Rebels were split over the ceasefire plan, with one jihadist group saying it would not observe it.
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as proof of obedience to God. The al-Nusra Front, a shadowy group that says it has carried out several high-profile bomb attacks, said it would not be tricked into playing "filthy games".
The main armed rebel group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), said any ceasefire observed by the government would be reciprocated.
But the group's Gen Mustafa al-Sheikh added: "It is impossible that the regime will implement the truce, even if it says it will."
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as proof of obedience to God.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Syrian state TV says a car bomb has exploded in Damascus, killing six people and injuring 20 others
  • BBC reporters in Damascus say warplanes have been flying over the capital and firing on some areas
  • Opposition forces and the government blame each other for the killing of at least 16 civilians in Douma, a north-western suburb of the capital
'Humble initiative'
  • Syrian state TV says a car bomb has exploded in Damascus, killing six people and injuring 20 others
  • BBC reporters in Damascus say warplanes have been flying over the capital and firing on some areas
  • Opposition forces and the government blame each other for the killing of at least 16 civilians in Douma, a north-western suburb of the capital
Government divisions
Mr Brahimi has travelled across the Middle East over the past two weeks in an effort to persuade the Syrian government and opposition, as well as their respective backers, to agree to his proposal for a ceasefire to "allow a political process to develop". Mr Brahimi has travelled across the Middle East over the past two weeks to promote his plan to use a ceasefire to kickstart a political process.
Lakhdar Brahimi's surprise announcement of a Syria ceasefire raises as many questions as it answers.Lakhdar Brahimi's surprise announcement of a Syria ceasefire raises as many questions as it answers.
As he made clear, while he believes the Syrian government has agreed to the ceasefire, only some of the rebel groups are on board. There are so many different rebel groups it may be impossible to win unanimous agreement from them. It could also be true that the Syrian government actually has more interest in a ceasefire, while it remains in power.As he made clear, while he believes the Syrian government has agreed to the ceasefire, only some of the rebel groups are on board. There are so many different rebel groups it may be impossible to win unanimous agreement from them. It could also be true that the Syrian government actually has more interest in a ceasefire, while it remains in power.
There is also the question of when the ceasefire would come into force - some Arab countries begin the Eid al-Adha holiday on Thursday, others, including Syria, mark it from Friday - and how long it would last. Nevertheless this does seem to be a rare glimmer of good news in a conflict which has been getting more intense by the day. There is also the question of when the ceasefire would come into force - some Arab countries begin the Eid al-Adha holiday on Thursday; others, including Syria, mark it from Friday - and how long it would last. Nevertheless, this does seem to be a rare glimmer of good news in a conflict which has been getting more intense by the day.
After holding talks on Wednesday with the Arab League's Secretary General, Nabil al-Arabi, the Algerian diplomat announced that the Syrian government had expressed its support. "There is agreement from the Syrian government for a ceasefire during the Eid," he told reporters in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
"After the visit I made to Damascus, there is agreement from the Syrian government for a ceasefire during the Eid," he told reporters.
"Other factions in Syria that we were able to contact - heads of fighting groups - most of them also agree on the principle of the ceasefire.""Other factions in Syria that we were able to contact - heads of fighting groups - most of them also agree on the principle of the ceasefire."
Mr Brahimi did not say when he believed the truce would begin or how long it would last. Mr Brahimi later briefed the UN Security Council, and they announced that they supported his plan.
The Syrian foreign ministry said the government would announce its "final position on the issue" on Thursday. Shortly after his announcement, the Syrian foreign ministry said the government was still studying the proposal and would announce its "final position" on Thursday.
"The proposal to halt military operations during the blessed Eid al-Adha holiday is still being studied by the leadership of the army and the armed forces," a statement explained. But Russian diplomats said they had "indications" that Damascus would approve the plan.
Some analysts say divisions among the rebels over the ceasefire are just one part of the problem because there are also differences of opinion within the government.Some analysts say divisions among the rebels over the ceasefire are just one part of the problem because there are also differences of opinion within the government.
While politicians might approve a ceasefire, the army and security officials are viewed by some as more likely to object and continue to push for a military solution.While politicians might approve a ceasefire, the army and security officials are viewed by some as more likely to object and continue to push for a military solution.
'Impossible' Lebanon concern
Gen Mustafa al-Sheikh, head of the rebel Free Syrian Army's military council, said any ceasefire observed by the government would be reciprocated, but warned that it had "lied many times before".
"It is impossible that the regime will implement the truce, even if it says it will," he told the AFP news agency.
The leader of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition coalition, told the Associated Press he had little hope the truce would take hold.The leader of the Syrian National Council, the main opposition coalition, told the Associated Press he had little hope the truce would take hold.
"This regime, we don't trust it, because it is saying something and doing something else on the ground," Abdelbaset Sayda added. "This regime, we don't trust it, because it is saying something and doing something else on the ground," said Abdelbaset Sayda.
Mr Brahimi will brief the UN Security Council later on Wednesday.
Earlier this week the UN's head of peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, revealed he had started to make plans to send an observer force to Syria should a lasting ceasefire be agreed.Earlier this week the UN's head of peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, revealed he had started to make plans to send an observer force to Syria should a lasting ceasefire be agreed.
A ceasefire negotiated in April by Mr Brahimi's predecessor, Kofi Annan, broke down within days despite the presence of unarmed UN monitors, and was followed by a dramatic escalation in the conflict. A ceasefire negotiated in April by Mr Brahimi's predecessor, Kofi Annan, broke down within days despite the presence of unarmed UN monitors.
The short-lived truce was followed by a dramatic escalation in the conflict.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that a power vacuum in neighbouring Lebanon could be exploited by Syria and create "even greater instability".
Lebanon's government was plunged into crisis after a senior security official was killed on Friday in a bomb attack that was blamed on Syria.