Moscow (AFP) May 9, 2016 – Government forces and rebels in the Syrian battleground city of Aleppo agreed Monday to extend their truce for a second time, the army said, as the United States and Russia vowed to “redouble” efforts to end the five-year conflict.
The cessation of hostilities was initially to last for two days but was later extended until Tuesday at 00:01 am (21:01 GMT Monday).
Announcing a further prolongation, the army command said: “The ‘regime of silence’ in Aleppo and its province has been extended by 48 hours from Tuesday 01:00 am (local time) to midnight on Wednesday.”
The rebels had yet to confirm the extension of the truce, which was decided after nearly 300 people were killed in an uptick in fighting in Syria’s largest city since late April.
The announcement came as Russia and the United States agreed to boost efforts to find a political solution to the five-year war which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
“The Russian Federation and United States are determined to redouble efforts to reach a political settlement of the Syrian conflict,” a joint US-Russian statement published by the Russian foreign ministry said.
The two powers also agreed to try extend a February 27 ceasefire across the whole of the country.
The Britain-based monitor reported 10 civilians killed on Monday by regime bombardments in the northwestern province of Idlib which is controlled by Al-Nusra Front.
Map of Aleppo showing the battle for control of the city
In the statement from Moscow, Russia and the US restated their commitment to the ceasefire and vowed “to intensify efforts to ensure its nationwide implementation.”
“We also intend to enhance efforts to promote humanitarian assistance to all people in need,” they said.
To this end, Russia “will work with the Syrian authorities to minimize aviation operations over areas that are predominantly inhabited by civilians or parties” to the ceasefire, they added.
Washington meanwhile said it would step up assistance to its allies in the region “to help them prevent the flow of fighters, weapons or financial support to terrorist organizations across their borders”.
UN-brokered talks on the conflict held in Geneva fell apart three weeks ago when Syria’s main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) suspended its formal participation.
– Parallel efforts –
The fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is a major stumbling block in efforts to end a half-decade of war.
In Paris, France called for the Syrian government and rebel forces to return to the negotiating table in Geneva “as soon as possible”.
Speaking after a meeting with several Arab and Western backers of the Syrian opposition, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also called for “concrete guarantees on the maintenance of the ceasefire” and access for humanitarian aid on the ground.
A protester holds a sign as he takes part in a demonstration in front of the UN offices in Beirut
Ayrault met with his Saudi, Qatari, Turkish and UAE counterparts in Paris. Kerry attended the talks but sources said he played a low-key role in a sign that Washington still believes the best hope for progress is to work most closely with Moscow.
Arriving for talks with Ayrault, Kerry held up the joint US-Russian statement as “a commitment by Russia” to try rein in Assad’s bombardments.
“But again, the proof will be in the eating of the pudding, not the making, and we’ll have to see what happens,” he said.
A diplomatic source said it had taken a great deal of effort to persuade Kerry to attend because he did not want to upset the Russians who were strongly opposed to the meeting.
The United Nations has sought in vain for months to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which has also forced millions to flee.
