Turkey, Russia announce ceasefire agreement across Syria

Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement for a ceasefire across Syria, effective Wednesday midnight (9pm GMT) onwards, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.


Ankara and Moscow reached the agreement with the Damascus administration and opposition groups for a ceasefire across the whole country, the agency reported Wednesday.

If the cessation of hostilities is successful, the Syrian regime and the opposition will begin political negotiations in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, under the guidance of Turkey and Russia.

The Syrian regime headed by President Bashar al-Assad, and all opposition forces, except those seen as terrorist groups, will be at the negotiating table.

Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG), which are locked in combat with the Islamic State in the north of the country, could be left out of the talks as Ankara considers them terrorist organizations.

The agreement comes two weeks after Russia and Turkey backed a ceasefire in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.
 EFE
28/12/16
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