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| Syria conflict: Ceasefire comes into effect for three towns | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Rebel groups and pro-government forces have agreed a 48-hour ceasefire in three Syrian towns, activists say. | Rebel groups and pro-government forces have agreed a 48-hour ceasefire in three Syrian towns, activists say. |
| The ceasefire began at 03:00GMT in rebel-held Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, and in Fuaa and Kafraya in Idlib province, under army control, Hezbollah's al-Manar TV says. | |
| The deal was reportedly agreed between rebels allied to al-Nusra Front and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group. | The deal was reportedly agreed between rebels allied to al-Nusra Front and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group. |
| Hezbollah is an ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. | Hezbollah is an ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. |
| "A ceasefire began at 6am today for 48 hours to halt military operations in Zabadani," al-Manar reported on Wednesday morning. | |
| "It also includes the two villages of al-Fuaa and Kafraya in the Idlib countryside." | |
| Local ceasefires have occasionally been brokered to allow food and medical aid into besieged areas. | Local ceasefires have occasionally been brokered to allow food and medical aid into besieged areas. |
| Activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said negotiations were also taking place on the possible withdrawal of all rebel fighters from Zabadani, as well as a halt to the siege of Fuaa and Kafraya and the delivery of aid. | Activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said negotiations were also taking place on the possible withdrawal of all rebel fighters from Zabadani, as well as a halt to the siege of Fuaa and Kafraya and the delivery of aid. |
| Insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham, an ally of al-Nusra Front, was said to be leading negotiations from the rebels' side. | Insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham, an ally of al-Nusra Front, was said to be leading negotiations from the rebels' side. |
| Earlier, rebel forces were reported to have advanced to the edge of the north-western region that is the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. | Earlier, rebel forces were reported to have advanced to the edge of the north-western region that is the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. |
| A military source said government troops had taken up new defensive positions in the Sahl al-Ghab plain. | A military source said government troops had taken up new defensive positions in the Sahl al-Ghab plain. |
| Last month, President Assad acknowledged the Syrian army was facing a shortage of troops and had withdrawn from some areas. | Last month, President Assad acknowledged the Syrian army was facing a shortage of troops and had withdrawn from some areas. |
| The uprising against President Assad began in 2011 and has claimed more than 230,000 lives. | The uprising against President Assad began in 2011 and has claimed more than 230,000 lives. |
| About 11.5 million people - more than half of the country's population - have fled their homes. | About 11.5 million people - more than half of the country's population - have fled their homes. |