Sun Feb 28, 2016 18:08:17
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the first day of the ceasefire in Syria led to reduction in violence in the conflict-torn country.
On Monday, Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria. The ceasefire, which excludes such terrorist groups as ISIS and the Nusra Front took effect at midnight on Saturday Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday).
"This is just the first day. So far the cessation of hostilities has led to reduction in violence. A mechanism had been put in place by those who have influence on the parties to help defuse tensions and facilitate the cessation of hostilities to take hold," Dujarric told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting against a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. The international community, including Russia and the Unites States, has been making efforts to settle the crisis.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force, Sputnik reported.
E/S 212-11
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