Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi made the request during a joint press conference in the Turkish capital Ankara on Friday.

“The massacre has to cease... We are calling for a ceasefire to let our Syrian brothers realize Ramadan,” Davutoglu said.
Salehi also joined the call, noting that a similar appeal had been made last year but proved unsuccessful.

“During Ramadan, Muslim countries have to be closer to each other. Unfortunately, we are witnessing in some Muslim countries that the blood of civilians is still being spilled,” Iran’s FM said.

“Ramadan is a good pretext for the ceasefire. We are officially calling on both parties. We hope that it becomes a start for a solution,” Salehi added.

Davutoglu also urged all “foreigners” fighting in Syria to immediately leave the country.

On July 8, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged all sides in Syria's conflict to stop fighting during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement, Ban called on “every person holding a gun, to stop fighting and offer this month of peace as a collective present to their people."

"Lasting peace will only come through serious negotiation. But I am convinced that the Syrian people have every right to ask this of all those who claim to be fighting in their name," the UN chief said.

"What is needed is a peaceful Syrian-led political solution for a democratic future in which all Syrians live in security, equality and dignity," Ban stated.

The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.

The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government boosts its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

NTJ/SHI