Syria oppn, rebels seek truce deal ‘guarantees’

Syria oppn, rebels seek truce deal ‘guarantees’

FPJ BureauUpdated: Thursday, May 30, 2019, 12:45 PM IST
article-image
Palestinian and Syrian children play on a street in the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp, on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on September 12, 2016, as Muslims mark the first day of Eid al-Adha holiday. Muslims across the world celebrate the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. / AFP PHOTO / ANWAR AMRO |

Beirut : Syria’s main opposition umbrella group and several rebel factions called for “guarantees” on the implementation of a landmark truce deal before endorsing it, hours before it was to begin on Monday.

The Russian-US brokered ceasefire is due to start at sundown, but it has yet to win support from Syria’s political or military opposition. “We want to know what the guarantees are,” said Salem al-Muslet, spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee, which groups political and military opposition factions. “What is the definition that has been chosen for ‘terrorism’, and what will the response be in case of violations?  “We are asking for guarantees especially from the United States, which is a party to the agreement,” Muslet told AFP.

Rebel groups yesterday sent a letter to the United States outlining a list of “concerns” over the deal, which calls for a 48-hour ceasefire “anywhere where the opposition is present”, which is then renewable.

In the text seen by AFP, rebels wrote they would “deal positively with the idea of the ceasefire,” but did not explicitly back it.  “The clauses of the agreement that have been shared with us do not include any clear guarantees or monitoring mechanisms… or repercussions if there are truce violations,” they said.

Ahmad al-Saoud, who heads the US-backed Division 13 rebel group which signed the letter, said they had received no response to their concerns. According to the deal, aid access to the country’s many besieged and “hard-to-reach” areas is set to begin, with government and rebel forces ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access in particular to Aleppo city.

Questions remain, however, about how the ceasefire will apply in several parts of the country where the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, is present. The deal says that Washington and Moscow will begin joint targeting of jihadists including Fateh al-Sham in a week, if the ceasefire holds. – AFP

RECENT STORIES

Paris Viral Video: High Voltage Drama At Charles de Gaulle Airport As Migrants Protest Against...

Paris Viral Video: High Voltage Drama At Charles de Gaulle Airport As Migrants Protest Against...

Pakistan Horror: Man Strangulates Sister To Death In Family's Presence; Shocking Crime...

Pakistan Horror: Man Strangulates Sister To Death In Family's Presence; Shocking Crime...

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Racist Posts Target Indian Crew On Social Media Following Collision

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Racist Posts Target Indian Crew On Social Media Following Collision

'Undoubtedly Saved Lives': US Prez Joe Biden Lauds Quick Action By Indian Crew Members In Baltimore...

'Undoubtedly Saved Lives': US Prez Joe Biden Lauds Quick Action By Indian Crew Members In Baltimore...

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: 6 Missing Presumed Dead, Says Maryland State Police; Rescue Ops Underway

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: 6 Missing Presumed Dead, Says Maryland State Police; Rescue Ops Underway