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Syria government 'to give Eid al-Adha ceasefire decision' Syria government 'to give Eid al-Adha ceasefire decision'
(about 2 hours later)
Syria's government is expected to give its reaction to a ceasefire proposed for this weekend's Eid al-Adha holiday by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.Syria's government is expected to give its reaction to a ceasefire proposed for this weekend's Eid al-Adha holiday by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
Mr Brahimi announced on Wednesday that the Syrian government and most opposition groups would back the truce.Mr Brahimi announced on Wednesday that the Syrian government and most opposition groups would back the truce.
But the Syrian foreign ministry said it was still studying the plan.But the Syrian foreign ministry said it was still studying the plan.
Heavy fighting is reported to be continuing within Syria, where an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's government began in March 2011.Heavy fighting is reported to be continuing within Syria, where an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's government began in March 2011.
Meanwhile, Carla del Ponte, a former UN war crimes prosecutor, said a UN commission investigating human rights abuses in Syria that she is part of would continue to pursue those accused of war crimes in the conflict. Meanwhile, a new, expanded team of UN human rights investigators met in Geneva and said it had requested and expected to be granted a meeting with Mr Assad.
Carla del Ponte, a former UN prosecutor who recently joined the commission, said she would investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"My principal task will be to continue the investigation... and to determine the high-ranking political and military figures [responsible for] these crimes," she told reporters in Geneva."My principal task will be to continue the investigation... and to determine the high-ranking political and military figures [responsible for] these crimes," she told reporters in Geneva.
Activists say more than 30,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. The UN estimates that at least 20,000 have died. She said the UN Security Council should refer the case to the International Criminal Court.
Activists say more than 30,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011. The UN estimates that at least 20,000 have died.
'No qualms''No qualms'
Mr Brahimi announced progress on the ceasefire plan on Wednesday in Cairo. Mr Brahimi announced progress on the ceasefire plan on Wednesday in Cairo. He briefed the UN Security Council by video link and received its backing.
The main armed rebel group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), said any ceasefire observed by the government would be reciprocated. Russia and China, which have repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions condemning Mr Assad's government for its role in the conflict, expressed their support.
The al-Nusra Front, a militant Islamist group that says it has carried out several high-profile bomb attacks, said it would not be tricked into playing "filthy games".
On Thursday, Moaz al-Shami, an opposition activist in Damascus told Reuters news agency: "No-one is taking the ceasefire seriously".
"How can there be a ceasefire with tanks roaming the streets, roadblocks every few hundred metres and the army having no qualms about hitting civilian neighbourhoods with heavy artillery?" he said.
Mr Brahimi has travelled across the Middle East over the past two weeks to promote his plan to use a ceasefire to kick-start a political process.
The UN Security Council gave its support to the plan on Wednesday after being briefed by Mr Brahimi.
Russian diplomats said they had "indications" that Damascus would approve the plan.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Twitter on Thursday that it was "important that the armed opposition in Syria should observe the 'holiday ceasefire'", which "could subsequently be extended for a few more days".Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Twitter on Thursday that it was "important that the armed opposition in Syria should observe the 'holiday ceasefire'", which "could subsequently be extended for a few more days".
He added: "The securing of a ceasefire in Syria depends in large part on whether the external players are able to influence the opposition to take the necessary action." Russian diplomats said they had "indications" that Damascus would approve the plan.
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. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "We hope that all the relevant parties in Syria can take a sincere attitude and concrete action to support and co-operate with UN envoy Brahimi's proposal and his mediation efforts."
Inside Syria, the main armed rebel group, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has said any ceasefire observed by the government will be reciprocated.
The al-Nusra Front, a militant Islamist group that says it has carried out several high-profile bomb attacks, said it would not be tricked into playing "filthy games".
On Thursday, Moaz al-Shami, an opposition activist in Damascus told Reuters news agency: "No-one is taking the ceasefire seriously.
"How can there be a ceasefire with tanks roaming the streets, roadblocks every few hundred metres and the army having no qualms about hitting civilian neighbourhoods with heavy artillery?"
Mr Brahimi has travelled across the Middle East over the past two weeks to promote his plan to use a ceasefire to kick start a political process.
Earlier this week the UN's head of peacekeeping operations, Herve Ladsous, said 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.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.The short-lived truce was followed by a dramatic escalation in the conflict.
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as proof of obedience to God.Eid al-Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as proof of obedience to God.