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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria rebels agree Azaz ceasefire | Syria rebels agree Azaz ceasefire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two Syrian rebel groups in the town of Azaz have agreed a ceasefire. | Two Syrian rebel groups in the town of Azaz have agreed a ceasefire. |
| The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), linked to al-Qaeda, seized the northern town on Wednesday from the larger Western-backed Free Syrian Army. | The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis), linked to al-Qaeda, seized the northern town on Wednesday from the larger Western-backed Free Syrian Army. |
| The fighting has raised fears of a possible war within a war. | |
| The clashes come ahead of one-week deadline for Syria to provide a list of its chemical weapons facilities, as part of a US-Russian deal for the country to destroy its deadly arsenal. | |
| Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, is holding talks in Damascus over the deal. | |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said a "definitive" UN report had proved that the Syrian government was behind a deadly chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs of Ghouta on 21 August. | |
| Damascus - backed by Moscow - insists that rebel forces carried out the attack. | |
| The West wants the deal on ridding the Syrian government of its chemical arsenal enshrined in a UN resolution backed by the threat of military force. | |
| Mr Kerry said the UN Security Council must be willing to act on this when the UN General Assembly holds its annual meeting in New York next week. | |
| But Russia objects to any mention of the threat of force in a UN resolution. | |
| Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with Fox News, said it could take about a year to destroy Syria's chemical stockpiles and could cost about $1bn (£623m). | |
| Impact unclear | |
| The BBC's Paul Wood, on the Syrian border with Turkey, says that under the ceasefire deal, two rebel sides have agreed to exchange prisoners and hand back property. | |
| It is unclear if the ceasefire will have an impact on clashes between the groups elsewhere in the country, he says. | It is unclear if the ceasefire will have an impact on clashes between the groups elsewhere in the country, he says. |
| Analysts say there is more chance that the US and other Western powers may arm the Free Syrian Army if it shows a distinct separation from the Islamists. | Analysts say there is more chance that the US and other Western powers may arm the Free Syrian Army if it shows a distinct separation from the Islamists. |
| Meanwhile, the party of Syria's Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil insists he was misquoted in Friday's edition of the UK's Guardian newspaper. | Meanwhile, the party of Syria's Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil insists he was misquoted in Friday's edition of the UK's Guardian newspaper. |
| Mr Jamil reportedly told the paper that the civil war had reached stalemate, with neither government forces nor the rebels strong enough to win - and that the government would use proposed talks in Geneva to call for a ceasefire. | Mr Jamil reportedly told the paper that the civil war had reached stalemate, with neither government forces nor the rebels strong enough to win - and that the government would use proposed talks in Geneva to call for a ceasefire. |
| But the People's Will Party said the Guardian journalist was ''neither precise nor professional'' about what he quoted Mr Jamil as saying. | But the People's Will Party said the Guardian journalist was ''neither precise nor professional'' about what he quoted Mr Jamil as saying. |
| Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Tehran is ready to help broker peace in Syria, as part of what he called his country's "constructive engagement" policy with other nations. | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Tehran is ready to help broker peace in Syria, as part of what he called his country's "constructive engagement" policy with other nations. |
| In an article in the Washington Post newspaper, Mr Rouhani wrote: "We must create an atmosphere where peoples of the region can decide their own fates." | In an article in the Washington Post newspaper, Mr Rouhani wrote: "We must create an atmosphere where peoples of the region can decide their own fates." |
| Correspondents say the article is the latest signal that Mr Rouhani wants to improve Iran's relationship with the US and other countries that believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons. | Correspondents say the article is the latest signal that Mr Rouhani wants to improve Iran's relationship with the US and other countries that believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons. |
| Islamic laws | Islamic laws |
| The fighting in Azaz began when a wounded rebel - either from Isis or from an allied group, al-Muhajireen - was taken to a field clinic and, while there, filmed as part of a fundraising exercise. | The fighting in Azaz began when a wounded rebel - either from Isis or from an allied group, al-Muhajireen - was taken to a field clinic and, while there, filmed as part of a fundraising exercise. |
| The wounded fighter demanded the film, and called some of his friends to come and help him. | The wounded fighter demanded the film, and called some of his friends to come and help him. |
| Free Syrian Army fighters, from a unit called the Northern Storm brigade, were guarding the field clinic, and there was a confrontation which ended up with Isis launching a full attack on the town, putting the Northern Storm brigade to flight. | Free Syrian Army fighters, from a unit called the Northern Storm brigade, were guarding the field clinic, and there was a confrontation which ended up with Isis launching a full attack on the town, putting the Northern Storm brigade to flight. |
| Isis is reported to have made a number of arrests of activists, journalists and even Sharia court officials during the time it controlled Azaz. | Isis is reported to have made a number of arrests of activists, journalists and even Sharia court officials during the time it controlled Azaz. |
| One eyewitness inside the town said no-one was smoking on the streets - tobacco is forbidden according to strict Islamist doctrine. | One eyewitness inside the town said no-one was smoking on the streets - tobacco is forbidden according to strict Islamist doctrine. |