BEIRUT (Reuters) Feb. 24, 2016 - Syria’s main opposition group said it has yet to commit to a U.S.-Russian plan to stop fighting in Syria on Saturday, underlining rebel doubts over a deal they fear will not prevent Russian air strikes against them.
Combatants are required to say whether they will agree to the 'cessation of hostilities' by noon on Friday (0500 ET), and to halt fighting at midnight Saturday. The deal does not include Islamic State or the Nusra Front, an al Qaeda affiliate which is widely deployed in opposition-held areas.
The United Nations hopes the planned cessation of hostilities will provide a breathing space for Syrian peace talks to resume.
The last round in Geneva broke up earlier this month without progress after the Syrian government launched a Russian-backed offensive on the city of Aleppo, where more fighting was reported on Wednesday.
The Saudi-backed HNC, which groups political and armed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, said on Monday it had 'given its acceptance of international efforts for a cessation of hostilities'.
Combatants are required to say whether they will agree to the 'cessation of hostilities' by noon on Friday (0500 ET), and to halt fighting at midnight Saturday. The deal does not include Islamic State or the Nusra Front, an al Qaeda affiliate which is widely deployed in opposition-held areas.
The United Nations hopes the planned cessation of hostilities will provide a breathing space for Syrian peace talks to resume.
The last round in Geneva broke up earlier this month without progress after the Syrian government launched a Russian-backed offensive on the city of Aleppo, where more fighting was reported on Wednesday.
The Saudi-backed HNC, which groups political and armed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, said on Monday it had 'given its acceptance of international efforts for a cessation of hostilities'.
Civilians ride on a motorcycle past damaged buildings in the rebel held town
But HNC chief negotiator Mohamad Alloush said on Wednesday that the council had not yet decided whether to commit to the deal.
'There was no consultation of Syrians. Will all the observations, additions and amendments requested by Syrians be taken into consideration?,' Alloush said in an interview with the pro-opposition Orient TV station.
The opposition fears government forces backed by the Russian air force will continue to attack rebels under the pretext of targeting the Nusra Front.
'How can (Russia) offer guarantees while it is part of the problem,' said Alloush, who heads the political office of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group.
The Syrian government, its war effort buoyed since September by the Russian air force, has accepted the cessation of hostilities agreement announced on Monday.
'There was no consultation of Syrians. Will all the observations, additions and amendments requested by Syrians be taken into consideration?,' Alloush said in an interview with the pro-opposition Orient TV station.
The opposition fears government forces backed by the Russian air force will continue to attack rebels under the pretext of targeting the Nusra Front.
'How can (Russia) offer guarantees while it is part of the problem,' said Alloush, who heads the political office of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group.
The Syrian government, its war effort buoyed since September by the Russian air force, has accepted the cessation of hostilities agreement announced on Monday.
Assad told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that his government was ready to assist in implementing the deal, the Kremlin and the Syrian presidency said.
Putin and Assad, who held a telephone conversation, stressed the importance of a continued 'uncompromising' fight against Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other militant groups.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he feared the ceasefire plan would do little more than benefit Assad.
Turkey has grown increasingly frustrated by the international response to Syria’s five-year-old war, incensed by a Russian intervention which has tipped the balance of power in favor of Ankara’s arch-enemy Assad and by U.S. support for a Kurdish militia it sees as a hostile insurgent force.
'If this is a ceasefire that is up to the mercy of Russia, which has brutally attacked the moderate opposition and aligned with Assad under the pretext of fighting Islamic State, we fear that the fire pouring over innocent people will never stop,' Erdogan said in a televised speech.
Relations with Moscow hit a nadir after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Syrian border last November, while Ankara’s ties with Washington are at their most strained for years.
The Syrian army and Islamic State fought fierce battles on Wednesday near Aleppo, where an attack by the jihadist group has cut the main land route to the city.
A government military source denied reports the town of Khanaser had fallen to Islamic State, although its fighters were firing on it from nearby positions.
Islamic State is escalating its assaults on government-held areas. Its suicide bombers launched some of their deadliest attacks of the war on Sunday in Damascus and Homs, killing about 200 people. It also attacked government forces near Palmyra on Wednesday.
The attacks appear to be a preemptive move, the military source said, because the militants expect to come under more pressure from the Syrian army soon.
Putin and Assad, who held a telephone conversation, stressed the importance of a continued 'uncompromising' fight against Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other militant groups.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he feared the ceasefire plan would do little more than benefit Assad.
Turkey has grown increasingly frustrated by the international response to Syria’s five-year-old war, incensed by a Russian intervention which has tipped the balance of power in favor of Ankara’s arch-enemy Assad and by U.S. support for a Kurdish militia it sees as a hostile insurgent force.
'If this is a ceasefire that is up to the mercy of Russia, which has brutally attacked the moderate opposition and aligned with Assad under the pretext of fighting Islamic State, we fear that the fire pouring over innocent people will never stop,' Erdogan said in a televised speech.
Relations with Moscow hit a nadir after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Syrian border last November, while Ankara’s ties with Washington are at their most strained for years.
The Syrian army and Islamic State fought fierce battles on Wednesday near Aleppo, where an attack by the jihadist group has cut the main land route to the city.
A government military source denied reports the town of Khanaser had fallen to Islamic State, although its fighters were firing on it from nearby positions.
Islamic State is escalating its assaults on government-held areas. Its suicide bombers launched some of their deadliest attacks of the war on Sunday in Damascus and Homs, killing about 200 people. It also attacked government forces near Palmyra on Wednesday.
The attacks appear to be a preemptive move, the military source said, because the militants expect to come under more pressure from the Syrian army soon.
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