International News

UNITED NATIONS, United States, (APP/AFP): The UN Security
Council is expected to vote Friday on a US-Russian draft resolution endorsing the Syria ceasefire, diplomats said.
The 15-member council is set to meet as of 2000 GMT to hear a report
from UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and could vote on the measure at that session.
The draft text obtained by AFP welcomes the truce as “a step towards
a lasting ceasefire” and endorses the US-Russian agreement on the truce.
It “demands the cessation of hostilities to begin at midnight
(Damascus time)” and renews a call to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered.
The measure urges all countries, in particular those involved in the
Syrian peace process, to “use their influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure fulfillment of those commitments.”
De Mistura is due to report to the council, a few hours before the
ceasefire is due to go into effect.
Russia and the United States have set a deadline of midnight Damascus
time (2200 GMT) Friday for “the cessation of hostilities” between President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and non-jihadist rebel forces.
The deal excludes the Islamic State group and the Al-Qaeda-linked
Al-Nusra Front, which control large swaths of territory in Syria.
If the ceasefire takes holds, De Mistura hopes to convene a new round
of peace talks next week, possibly on March 4.
De Mistura suspended peace talks in early February as Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air powers, went on the
offensive in northern Aleppo province.