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| Syria conflict: Temporary truce comes into effect | Syria conflict: Temporary truce comes into effect |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A landmark temporary truce has come into effect in Syria. | A landmark temporary truce has come into effect in Syria. |
| If the "cessation of hostilities" holds it would be the first time a pause in Syria's five-year civil war has been negotiated by world powers. | If the "cessation of hostilities" holds it would be the first time a pause in Syria's five-year civil war has been negotiated by world powers. |
| In the run-up to the midnight (22:00 GMT) deadline, US President Barack Obama warned the Syrian government and Russia "the world will be watching". | In the run-up to the midnight (22:00 GMT) deadline, US President Barack Obama warned the Syrian government and Russia "the world will be watching". |
| Russian jets were reported to have intensified attacks on Syrian rebel positions on Friday. | Russian jets were reported to have intensified attacks on Syrian rebel positions on Friday. |
| Meanwhile, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has announced that peace talks will resume on 7 March if the truce "largely holds". | Meanwhile, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has announced that peace talks will resume on 7 March if the truce "largely holds". |
| Mr de Mistura said he had no doubt "there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process". | Mr de Mistura said he had no doubt "there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process". |
| "This will remain a complicated, painstaking process," he told the UN Security Council via videoconference from Geneva. | "This will remain a complicated, painstaking process," he told the UN Security Council via videoconference from Geneva. |
| But he added: "Nothing is impossible, especially at this moment." | But he added: "Nothing is impossible, especially at this moment." |
| Previous talks in Geneva collapsed in early February after making no progress. | Previous talks in Geneva collapsed in early February after making no progress. |
| The UN Security Council also unanimously adopted a resolution drafted by the US and Russia that endorsed the truce agreement. | The UN Security Council also unanimously adopted a resolution drafted by the US and Russia that endorsed the truce agreement. |
| It urges all sides to "use their influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure fulfilment of those commitments". | |
| One of the key aims of the cessation - brokered by the US and Russia - is to allow desperately needed aid to reach people trapped in besieged areas. | |
| The UN resolution names about 30 areas in dire need of aid, including eastern and western rural Aleppo and the eastern city of Deir al-Zour, which is under siege by so-called Islamic State (IS) jihadists. | |
| The truce involves government and rebel forces - but not IS or the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front. On Friday, Nusra Front urged its supporters to intensify attacks against President Bashar al-Assad and his allies. | |
| Almost 100 rebel factions have agreed to respect the truce, Syrian opposition umbrella group the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said. | Almost 100 rebel factions have agreed to respect the truce, Syrian opposition umbrella group the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said. |
| The HNC warned the Syrian government and its allies not to use the "proposed text to continue the hostile operations against the opposition factions under the excuse of fighting terrorism". | The HNC warned the Syrian government and its allies not to use the "proposed text to continue the hostile operations against the opposition factions under the excuse of fighting terrorism". |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces were targeting IS, Nusra Front and other extremist groups designated as legitimate targets by the UN Security Council. | Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces were targeting IS, Nusra Front and other extremist groups designated as legitimate targets by the UN Security Council. |
| However, Russia is widely accused of also attacking more moderate rebel groups fighting President Assad, an ally of the Kremlin. | |
| President Obama said the success of the cessation would depend on whether warring parties including the Syrian government, Russia and their allies lived up to their commitments. | President Obama said the success of the cessation would depend on whether warring parties including the Syrian government, Russia and their allies lived up to their commitments. |
| Attacks needed to end, he said, and humanitarian aid had to be allowed through to desperate civilians. | Attacks needed to end, he said, and humanitarian aid had to be allowed through to desperate civilians. |
| "The coming days will be critical and the world will be watching," he added. | "The coming days will be critical and the world will be watching," he added. |
| More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria's civil war and millions more have been forced from their homes. | More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria's civil war and millions more have been forced from their homes. |